Saint Tropez

The sun-drenched Saint-Tropez is a holiday paradise offering everything from superb beaches and coastal walks to Provençal markets and historical monuments.

It has a reputation for attracting celebrities and famous artists from around the world and after a visit here you will understand why.  Saint-Tropez is the perfect mix of old and new, with exquisite dining and classy bars contrasting brilliantly with old cobblestoned streets and historical landmarks.  The shear beauty of this place has inspired many artists with Paul Signac and Herni Matisse producing some of their finest works here.

While Saint-Tropez is well known for being a playground for the rich and famous, underneath the glamour it remains a charming small fishing village, enjoyed by all including sun and sea-lovers, wine connoisseurs and heritage enthusiasts.

Saint-Tropez has many seasonal festivals and events, which are often focused on celebrating the beauty of the coastline and the produce of the surrounding region.

Markets

Every Tuesday and Saturday morning the Place des Lices market holds centre stage in Saint-Tropez.  Local stallholders sell their produce of fruit and vegetables, cheeses, olives, honeys and jams and much more!  You will also find an array of crafts, antiques and Provençal herbs, potteries and soaps; the perfect place to find some presents for loved ones.

Beaches and coastal walks

There are up to 40 different beaches in and around Saint-Tropez so you will be very spoilt for choice.  The Baie de Pampelonne is the best place to go and is known by the locals as Grania.  This 5km sandy stretch is around 30km wide which is very unusual for this part of the world and is therefore one of the most popular spots to soak up the sun.  For the more adventurous, there are also plenty of water sports available including windsurfing, sailing, canoeing and some motorized sports such as jet skiing and water-skiing.

The Coastal Footpath is 20km long and runs from the Capes Taillat to Camarat where the hills wind down to the sparkling blue Azur waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Once used by customs officers to watch the coast from Saint-Tropez to Cavalaire, today this path is used as a nature walk and will take you through numerous creeks, past quaint beaches and historical ruins. 

Museums

There are several museums worth visiting in Saint-Tropez, the most unusual of which is the House of the Butterflies, or La Maison des Papillons housing a magnificent selection of all the French diurnal species.  The Musée Naval de la Citadellehouses a range of interesting naval artifacts and maritime exhibits relating to the French Riviera. It is located within a 16^thcentury citadel and is easily recognized by its hexagonal shape.

Art lovers will not be disappointed with the Musée de l'annonciadewith the collection belonging to the Pointillist, Nabis and Fauvist movement and ranging from 1890 t0 1950.  There are also a number of decent art galleries including the Gallery George Flanet, the Gallery Henrie Sie and the Céramique 1900 with a range of pottery is exhibited and sold.

The Port – Vieux Port

The charming Vieux Port is located along the eastern quay and is full of colour and atmosphere.  Be sure to take your camera to take advantage of the splendid view of the coastline while you’re there.  Vieux Port is lined with cafes and restaurants where you can watch the world go by and enjoy the yachts sailing the Med in the distance.

Saint-Tropez and Art

Saint-Tropez has played quite an important role in the history of modern art.  Paul Signac was greatly inspired by the unique light in Saint-Tropez and left Paris every summer to stay in this village on the Riviera.  He painted many scenes of the water and inspired painters like Matisse, Bonnard, Marquet and Derain to visit Saint-Tropez and thus inspired the evolution of Fauvism and Pointillism.  Saint-Tropez continued to inspire painters in the next generation such as Bernard Buffet and David Hockney and continues this tradition today with many talented artists residing in this charming village.

Pablo Picasso was also an important visitor of Saint-Tropez as he rented a house inla Rue des Bouchoniers in the mid 1950’s to indulge in a summer romance with Geneviève Laporte.  It was in the studio of this house that Picasso drew the famous ‘Odalisque’, a nude representation of Geneviève, which portrays a serene image of the woman’s face. This work was quite different to his usual harsh style and has thus been referred to as the ‘tender period’ of Picasso.