From Fishing Village to the Riviera's Most Famous Harbour
Saint-Tropez is a coastal town in the Var department of south-eastern France, on the peninsula that bears its name, known for its colourful harbour, its beach clubs and its place in the history of glamour. It began as a fishing village, and the old quarter, La Ponche, still preserves narrow lanes and ochre houses. Painters including Paul Signac discovered its light in the late nineteenth century, and the Musee de l'Annonciade holds a notable collection of their work, bringing real artistic weight to a town known for its sunshine.
Fame arrived in the 1950s, when the film And God Created Woman, starring Brigitte Bardot, was shot here in 1956 and put the town on the world map. Today, superyachts line the quay at the Vieux Port while locals play petanque beneath the plane trees on Place des Lices, and the hilltop Citadelle looks over the bay. Cafes along the harbour make people-watching an art, and the sense of ease in the evening light has changed little in decades.
Pampelonne, Tarte Tropezienne and Harbour Evenings
Pampelonne beach, a long crescent of pale sand a few kilometres from the village, is the heart of summer, with beach clubs, restaurants and water sports lining its length. Quieter coves and rocky headlands offer alternatives, and the coastal path around the peninsula is a scenic walk. The Tarte Tropezienne, a cream-filled brioche created in the town in the 1950s, is a signature treat, while the market on Place des Lices, held on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, brings Provencal produce, olives and flowers.
The calendar adds colour: the Bravades in May honour the town's patron saint with processions and music, and Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez each autumn gathers classic and modern sailing yachts in a spectacular regatta. Neighbouring Port Grimaud makes an easy canal-side contrast, while the French Riviera unfolds to the east. A hotel group or villa operator can use the gulf to present everything from beach-club days to hilltop vineyard stays, with Marseille a short onward journey.
Read the full St Tropez guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitStTropez.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.