DESCRIPTION

Saint Tropez ! A fashionable destination, the capital of show-biz and a very trendy town, this little village is one of the most famous in the world. An essential meeting place for the jet set, Saint Tropez takes people by surprise because of its simplicity and traditional, rustic appearance. Its little alleys, the Place des Lices (square), its beaches... Conversely, Saint Tropez harbour swiftly reminds us that the occupants do have means. The finest and largest yachts come to moor here and fire the imagination of the inquisitive who arrive to take in the scene. The town conceals little boutiques of the great fashion designers, haute couture and off-the-peg clothing. Considered as the world capital of sailing and above all the capital of the Arts, Saint Tropez makes an impression on all fronts. As for the ramparts and citadel, they bear testament to the history of the town which was just a small fishing port until the arrival of Guy de Maupassant and Paul Signac...

HISTORY

As with neighbouring seaside towns, Saint Tropez was visited by the Greeks and before them by Etruscan merchants. Like its neighbours, Antipolis (Antibes) and Nikaia (Nice), and what is more, most of the continent, it fell into Roman hands. They took advantage of the peninsula to export the oil and wine produced in the region. After wars and epidemics, new residents came to settle in around the Fifteenth Century. In addition to fishing, the Tropezians founded shipyards and their main agriculture was grape vine growing. In 1801, the town, which until that time had borne the name of "Héraclée", was renamed Saint Tropez after the name of one of Nero’s great officers, "Torpes", who was beheaded for having converted. According to legend, Nero put his body into a boat with a dog and a cockerel. The boat drifted to the shore of "Héraclée", and "Torpes"’ head remained in Pisa.
When Guy de Maupassant recounted his adventures in the Mediterranean in the book «Sur l’eau», the painter Paul Signac decided to go and visit this little town which the writer had described. Fascinated in his turn, he settled there to paint. It was from then on that a positive endless parade of artists passed through. The light of the peninsula attracted ever more painters, writers, film-makers and even fashion designers. Matisse painted «Luxe, calme et volupté» there; Colette wrote many books such as «Prisons et Paradis» and «Journal à rebours» ”; Sartre and Madame de Beauvoir stayed at the Hôtel de la Ponche; Picasso used to come here from time to time visiting from Vallauris; Françoise Sagan turned up with «Bonjour tristesse» which was made into a film shot right here; Brigitte Bardot acted in «Et…Dieu créa la femme», ; Boris Vian, Ernest Hemingway, Coco Chanel, Marcel Pagnol, Joseph Kessel, Orson Welles, Jean Cocteau, André Roussin, Maurice Chevalier, Isadora Duncan, et al. An entire generation of artists and designers met here and today it still attracts a special crowd.

ENTERTAINMENT

The absolutely unmissable event in Saint Tropez has to be : «Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez». All types of sailing boat, either traditional or modern, come face to face with each other in the world-famous regatta. This very popular international event takes place towards the end of September.

Other events punctuate the year in Saint Tropez, such as the Grande Braderie des Commerçants (traders’ sale), the Fête des pêcheurs (fishermen festival), the International Saint Tropez Polo Cup, the Festival les Nuits du Château de la Moutte concerts and shows), the Bravades des Espagnols à Saint-Tropez (religious and military celebration), etc.

WALKS

The «sentier du littoral» (shore footpath) : is a pleasant walk along the peninsula. The signposted paths extend inland and to the edge of the beaches. You need around three and a half hours to walk the 12.5 kms which link the village to Tahiti Beach.

ARCHITECTURE

The surrounding ramparts are certainly a feature of Saint Tropez. They incorporate two towers: Tour Guillaume and Tour du Portalet. These edifices enabled the town to protect itself from many a seaborne incursion. They are not the only features, however... in the Sixteenth Century, the citadel was added to complement the town’s defences.
At the entrance to the town, in the old harbour, looms the statue of Suffren. Erected in 1866, it depicts the Vice-Admiral of France, Pierre-André de Suffren. He was also Commander-in-Chief of naval forces and was decorated many times for his exploits. The statue of Suffren, also Bailli in the Order of Malta, was cast in bronze from seized enemy artillery pieces, these being provided by Napoleon the III.

EXCURSIONS

Several sea trips to the following destinations departing from the port are on offer: the “Baie des Canoubiers” with the villas owned by stars; the tour of the gulf; the Esterel Calanques (rocky inlets); and wild capes... And if you want to visit the seabed without getting wet, jump on board the Aquavision, a glass-bottomed boat enabling a view underwater.

ARTS AND CRAFTS – INDUSTRY

This town has long been home to shipyards. Today, St Trop’ is the meeting place for fashion and arts.

SHOPS

There are all sorts of luxury boutiques where you can find designer clothing and haute couture... and also some more affordable shops.
The Provencal market, located on Places des Herbes, offers flowers, fruit, vegetables and regional products, etc.

LEISURE

The town of Saint Tropez has several museums of interest which trace the town’s history and its connection with artists. One such museum you shouldn’t miss visiting is the Musée de l’Annonciade. This former Sixteenth Century chapel brings together the works of several great painters, such as Matisse, Braque and Bonnard. Many famous works have their home here, most in the very same place as that in which they were painted. Also worth a visit is the Sixteenth Century citadel citadel with its museum dedicated to the town’s history, the Place des Lices, a meeting place also nicknamed "place des arts" (Arts’ Square) where today games of pétanque are held. There is also the Musée national de la Marine (National Naval Museum), the old harbour, Tour du Portalet, Tour Vieille, Eglise Notre Dame de l’Assomption (1820) (church), the naval cemetery, the Maison des Papillons (Butterfly Museum) and so on.
Right close to the famous Carrefour de la Foux (crossroads), between Saint Tropez and the village of Gassin is the amusement park, Azurparc.

RESTAURANTS

There are all sorts of nice cafés and restaurants, particularly at the harbour.

SPORTS

The peninsula offers a wide variety of water activities: swimming, sailing, jet ski trips, waterskiing, parasailing, diving for all levels, etc. You can also go sea angling and fishing for tuna.
You can go golfing. The nearest golf courses are at Sainte-Maxime or Gassin (4 to 6km).

LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS

St. Tropez is located in the department of Var, near Sainte Maxime and close to the villages of Ramatuelle and Gassin.
By road :
- When coming from Aix-Marseille on the A8 motorway, take exit 13 «Le Cannet des Maures». Then take the D558 up to Grimaud and there take the D61 for 9 kms.
- When coming from Nice on the A8 motorway, take exit 36 «Le Muy». Then take the D25 up to Sainte-Maxime and drive parallel to the sea up to Saint Tropez.
By train :
SNCF station : Saint Raphaël Valescure (Corail, TGV, TER).
By air :
Nice Côte d’Azur International is the closest airport, 91 kms away.
Toulon - Hyères airport is 44 kms away and provides links at a national level.
Saint Tropez La Môle airport (15km).
Cannes – Mandelieu airport (40kms).
And Grimaud heliport.
By sea :
«Les bateaux verts» (green boats) link Saint Tropez harbour with Sainte-Maxime in 20 minutes.
Other shuttles offer to take you to Fréjus, Saint Raphaël, Cannes and Nice by sea.

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