Mazan is a postcard of Provence — a small medieval village perched on a hill, surrounded by vineyards, in view of the windswept Mount Ventoux rising in the distance.

For years, it was known for its nearby cycling routes often featured in the Tour de France, and for a notorious figure from the 18th century, the Marquis de Sade, whose graceful mansion in the middle of the village has become its fanciest hotel.

Now, it is infamous as the place where Gisèle Pelicot was regularly drugged by her husband of 50 years and offered up to strange men for sex. In September, 51 men went on trial in nearby Avignon, most charged with the aggravated rape of Ms. Pelicot, 71.

Some 15 of the defendants, including Dominique Pelicot, Ms. Pelicot’s ex-husband, have pleaded guilty. The rest have said they had sex with her but contest the rape charges. Most argue they were lured into the couple’s bedroom by her husband, with a promise of a threesome, and were led to believe she was pretending to sleep or was sleeping as part of the couple’s sex fantasy.

The trial has rattled the country, raising profound and disturbing questions about relations between men and women, and the prevalence of rape.

No place has been as shaken as Mazan, 21 miles northeast of Avignon, with a population of 6,300.

Here, the story is not just horrifying; it feels oppressively personal.

English Channel

GERMANY

Paris

FRANCE

SWITZ.

MOUNT

VENTOUX

ITALY

Mazan

Avignon

PROVENCE

Marseille

100 miles

By The New York Times

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