A Provencal Venice Built Around the Water
Port Grimaud is a planned lagoon village in the Var department of south-eastern France, on the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, known for its canals, pastel houses and private moorings at the doorstep. Designed by the architect Francois Spoerry and built from the late 1960s, it was conceived as a modern interpretation of a Mediterranean fishing village, with bridges, small squares and terracotta roofs. Its nickname, the Venice of Provence, sums up the mood: low-rise, colourful, and entirely oriented around the water.
The village centre is car-free, so exploring is a pleasure on foot or by small electric boat. The Church of Saint-Francois d'Assise, with a tower open to visitors, offers a panorama of the canals, the gulf and the hills behind, and its modern interior includes stained glass by Vasarely. Shops, galleries and cafes line the central quay, and the small boat taxis, locally called mouettes, glide between districts, giving the visitor a real sense of living on water.
Sandy Beaches, Markets and Water Days
Beaches are close: the long sands of Grimaud and the neighbouring Gulf of Saint-Tropez coast stretch out beyond the village, and sailing, paddleboarding and boat hire are part of the offer. On Thursday mornings, a lively market spreads through the centre with Provencal produce, flowers, olive oil and tapenade. The nearby hill village of Grimaud, with its ruined castle and old lanes, adds a medieval counterpoint, and the countryside behind is a mosaic of vineyards, cork oaks and quiet roads.
Seafood, grilled fish and Provencal rose define the terrace menus, and sunset over the canals is the evening ritual. Guests who base themselves here find St Tropez across the bay by seasonal boat, while the wider French Riviera is reached by road. Travellers who admire lagoon-side towns elsewhere may compare Venice Lido in Italy. A hotel group or villa collection could present Port Grimaud as a charming, family-friendly alternative to busier harbour towns.
Read the full Port Grimaud guide on Visit Travel Group, or see PortGrimaud.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.