Saint-Tropez is an exclusive destination of the French Riviera,a very special resort famous for its eternal breaths of glitz and glamour,considered highly trendy and captivating,famous worldwide to be as one of the most famed Jet Setting meeting point since long time ago.
It was in the 60s when famous the most famed figures of the glamorous Parisian life flocked on the Côte D´Azur,artists and VIPs such as Brigitte Bardot,Johnny Halliday,Alain Delon,Jean Paul Belmondo,Maurice Chevalier transported on that French coast glamorous nights and a vibrant nightlife so similar to that one celebrated in the French
Capital.
Despite all that,the resort is also a place which surprises many people for its traditional charm also wrapped by a rustic and simple atmosphere in many of its corners and perhaps is also that aspect which makes Saint Tropez unique in its kind,sophistication but with a limit as a sort of code was written in the soul of that resort.
Located on a peninsula overlooking a small bay in the southeastern coast of the department of Var,Saint-Tropez is bordered on its western side by the territory of Gassin and Ramatuelle and it is part of an area occupied by the Maures Mountains.Characterised by a fairly rugged coastline packed by several small bays and coves,the most important is that of Canebiers and its headland.
The historical presence of Italic roots and culture even in the name which according historic documentations was San Torpoint and the municipality is located just some kilometres west of the Italian Region Liguria but the first official settlement was Greek, although the most relevant and particular importance came under Roman rule.
Its small streets,the famed Place des Lices,famous beaches,the most beautiful and biggest yachts moored along its notorious harbour and make the most curious dreaming and coming to observe the daily scenes of that place which gained fame all around the world.
Home of luxury shops and boutiques where the Prêt-à-porter although it is not Paris has a notorious importance,you can consider Saint-Tropez as another planet far from the galaxy formed by the other seaside towns,totally different in its essence and spirit,all that is immediately visible once you are there,so evident,so flaring.
Regarded as one of the world capitals of sailing,that seaside resort is present on all fronts including in the historic and cultural aspects.
Its walls and the Citadel testify the historical past of the current resort ,the traces of a small fishing port until the arrival of prominent artists as Guy de Maupassant and Paul Signac remind nostalgic and beautiful times when the current seaside resort was discovered as a tiny,captivating Mediterranean Paradise along the charming French Riviera.
Originally explored by the Phoenicians who installed in the area of Marseille their base developing their trades on the coasts of the Northern Mediterranean choosing the best places to establish their docks to improve their active navigation in a very organised network of trading harbours.
The current town was also visited by the Greeks and the Etruscans,populated by Ligurians although the first official settlement was founded by the Hellenic colonists of Massalia coming from Phocaea,who established there a former Emporium,where the main activity became an intense exchange of goods with the natives.
The settlement took the name Athenopolis and changed name with the arrival of the Romans who called the it Heraclea.According to a legend, Saint- Tropez was named Torpés taking that eponymous by an important Officer at the court of Nero.
The real name of that man was Caius Silvius Torpetius, born in Pisa by a Patrician Roman family Family,converted to the Christian religion,that engendered the wrath of the Emperor and he was beheaded.His body was placed in a boat in company of a rooster and a dog and went up to the Arno River with destination his birthplace.
Like its neighbours Antipolis the current Antibes and the former Nikaia the actual Nice,Saint-Tropez became an important and strategic harbour in the Mediterranean sea under Rome influence.Often attacked by the Gauls,Heraclea had an intense development forming an active network of commerce with other ports and it also was organised as a relevant military naval base hosting the Imperial fleet.
In ancient times also existed a settlement later called Frassineto on the opposite shore of the Gulf and after the fall of the Roman Empire generated continuous incursions and invasions by Berber and Moorish pirates with several raids along the Mediterranean coasts and they established their headquarters in that place.
The numerous presence of that people settled on the local coast was the origin of the decline of that active maritime centre,the town was sacked several times and including relics of Saints during a raid, were stolen.
The inhabitants in the year 972 asked Duke Guillaume of Provence to expel the Moorish from that place, fled to the hills in s small fortified village and after battles the operations of release were successful and of that fort only remained a currently isolated tower which still dominates the harbour.
In the year 1436 the Duke René of Provence called a noble Genoese named Raffaele Garezzio to develope a new community repopulating the local territory with approximately 60 families,mainly merchants and traders coming from the Marine Republic and Ligurian Capital Genoa.
The new settlement had a great and important economic renaissance and in return the Duke decided to thank the inhabitants who had not to pay taxes,a treaty which will last for about two centuries.The new settlers erected around the town strong walls which still can be observed.In the year 1801,the current resort which was still called Heraclea was renamed Saint-Tropez, taking the name of that famous Roman officer.
Over the years the town was attacked in several occasions by the Spaniards and English and will undergo much devastation.Saint-Tropez was apart those historic events characterised by battles and wars also became a place of deep inspiration of some prominent characters of culture and Guy de Maupassant described the resort in his adventures in the Mediterranean in his work.That famed artist never hide his passionate love for that town while the painter Paul Signac decided to visit the town in many occasions and fascinated by such stunning beauty he took the decision to live there.The seaside resort had an important development with significant activities related to the marine in the year 1860 and also it was nicknamed the Queen of the Angels.During the 2nd World War,that centre of the French Riviera was a headquarter of the Allied troops landed in Provence in the year 1944 and,on 15th August they released the town which was occupied by a division of the German Wermacht troop.
Although up to the 50s,the resort despite a new image and a reconstruction after the war,it was a small town but not very populated but soon it became a place of international fame with a beginning of an endless parade of artists.The lights and the colours of that picturesque peninsula attracted a multitude of figures such as painters,writers,poets,philosophers, filmmakers and even creators.
Henry Matisse was one of those famed characters who created there Luxe,calme et volupté and Colette wrote numerous works such as Prison and havens and Journal backwards, Sartre and Madame Beauvoir also often were guests at the Hotel La Ponche,and also Pablo Picasso visited often Saint Tropez.
In addition to those personalities,the famous actress Brigitte Bardot appeared in the famed movie And God Created Woman a movie which launched the star as a famous sex symbol,well known worldwide.
The French star bought a villa a few years later,the famous La Madrague,all that will be an attraction for the Jet Set on the French Riviera hosting many other artists who flocked there so numerous,among them Boris Vian, Ernest Hemingway, Coco Chanel,Marcel Pagnol Joseph Kessel, Orson Welles, Jean Cocteau, André Roussin, Isadora Duncan.
It is from there with a whole generation of famed people,after that the resort continued to host new generations,those eternal breaths of glitz and glamour never stopped as Saint-Tropez which never tried to stop all that,new faces,new profiles,new years and that resort continue to be a meeting point of celebrated Jet Setters.
Also music played an important role,that French resort inspired singers and musicians,it is very famous a song Saint-Tropez Twist and also the Pink Floyd in the Album Meddle dedicated a song to that famous resort of the French Riviera.
An aspect which immediately captures the attention of the visitor is undoubtedly the presence of walls which surround the town with its two towers and the harbour is definitely the emblematic symbol of the city, along with the many luxury yachts moored there.
Originally the port had a modest size,in a period it was characterised by the presence of many shipyards,were also built predominantly tartans and a fair which mainly traded wine,timber and fish.Today it is impressive to notice the change,that place is also a cultural centre,with the modern Art Museum of the Annonciade, and also set of many temporary exhibitions.
You can start you visit from that point L'Annonciade or Musée de Saint Tropez (the Museum of the Annunciation) which is located in the harbour in the place which was formerly the site of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Annunciation which was built in the year 1568 and transformed in a museum in 1937.
The current resort paid tribute to the many artists during the 19th and 20th centuries,who came to live or work there fascinated by the beauty of the local landscapes.The rich artistic collection displays relevant works which extend from 1890 to 1950.All them are primarily a reflection on the colour and figuration,essentially pointillism,and a relevant highlight is that presence of works linked to that famous artistic movement called Fauvisme which had a notable success in France not only for the several artists but also for a multitude of fans related to that kind of art.The Museum is also one of the main core of the Avant-garde painting of the early 20th century and its permanent collection is truly impressive,containing masterpieces by famed artists such as Matisse,Signac, Braque,Modigliani,Seurat and Vuillard,of course you know the famous painting called The Port of Saint-Tropez by Paul Signac which is known worldwide and it is one of the highlights of that rich exhibition.
The history of that painter is in its kind is very captivating.Fascinated by the sea,Paul Signac travelled and painted all the coasts of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic,sailing with his small boat based in the port of Saint- Tropez and that Signac's painting show you some costs and lost,filled with sailboats and wrapped in a golden light.
The Museum is also a mecca for lovers of other kind of art and history and it regularly hosts temporary exhibitions with works by Fernando Botero that famous Colombian figurative artist among others.
The market located in the famous Place de Lices well known as well as Place aux Herbes (Herbs Square) is held every Tuesday and Saturday from 7,00 to 13,00 hours throughout the year.
Housed just five minutes walking from the harbour,it is a typical Provencal market very famous for its coloured stalls which sell many products but the most iconic since long time ago are olives,honey, and anchovies of high quality.
Next to them it is also possible to buy flowers,fruit,fresh vegetables,spices,herbs and other local gastronomic product.A section of the market is devoted to antiques,while for lovers of fish and seafood, the fish market is within walking distance of the port and it works every morning,every day of the year.
The Citadel is another emblematic local symbol.Situated at the top of the resort,it is a fortress erected during the war of Religions in the 16th century developed to protect the local bay by the attacks of the Spanish fleet.
Later France found an alliance with the Spaniards and the fort served to repel the several attacks by the English.The Citadel was also destroyed by the Duke of Guise and it will not be rebuilt until the early 17th century,exactly in the year 1607.
In the year 1742,a famous naval battle took place in the bay,when the British fleet sank five Spanish galleys close to the Citadel which stripped of guns could not intervene.Another historic event is when it was taken during the federalist revolt in the year 1793 in the period the French Revolution.
That fortress was for long time,one the most important defencive system along the coast from Toulon to Antibes - Juan les Pins.During the 2nd World War,it also served the German troops to control the South French Coast between Toulon and Saint Raphael.That Citadel was originally erected for deterrence not for military purposes and it was a place to host the inhabitants but working as refuge in case of war,battles or military conflicts.
Its most distinctive feature is its hexagonal shape surrounded by three lines of protection,so that,if the enemy managed to cross it and entering in the fort,would be surrounded on all sides by soldiers stationed on the upper section,it poured water boiling.
Within the Citadel is located the Musée de la Marine et de l'Histoire the Museum of the Navy and its history.From that relevant historic place you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the marina,the centre and the charming landscapes of the Massif des Maures and in summer it hosts prestigious popular music festivals and cultural events.
The Musée national de la Marine (the National Maritime Museum) undoubtedly worth a visit.It was opened in the year 1958 and totally renovated in 1974.The exhibition is spread over two galleries of 190 metres in length,presenting a wide variety of models and documents,offering the opportunity to discover the trace of the history of the French Marine from the 12th century until the year 1944 with miniatures,objects and paintings from archaeological excavations underwater and many other items.That exhibition is therefore a complete tour,a full immersion of all the maritime issues through permanent displays and temporary.The permanent collection is definitely the most important,offering posters,decorative arts,Fine Arts and different small replicas of vessels.The models represented are some among the most distinguished as the great and legendary French boats the Lafayette of the 1930, the Atlantic built in 1931 or the France dating back 1964 while for all the fans who loves that world,the museum offers the visitors multimedia facilities and also brochures.
At the foot of the Citadelle,you can see the Cimetière Marine (the Marine cemetery) just before the famous Plage de la Graniers (Graniers beach),facing the Mediterranean
Adjacent there is a great view point from where it is possible to enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding areas and it is also a very relaxing place to have a break during the visit in a place which offers thanks to its position a moment of serenity and contemplation admiring unforgettable maritime landscapes.
Developed in the year 1815,it had several extensions during the 19th and 20th centuries,the cemetery hosts the tombs of iconic figures of art,politics and of the marine world such as Roger Vadim, Pierre Bachelet and the painter Dunoyer de Segonzac among others.
The neighbourhood of La Ponche is is the most typical of Saint-Tropez,also probably the most genuine and real showing you the old town.It consists in a maze of picturesque narrow streets and alleys flanked by charming houses with facades painted in yellow and orange.
Discovered in the late 19th century by Guy de Maupassant, and then often visited by the painter Signac, the neighbourhood soon became a meeting place for writers and artists of the 20th century.Away from the bustle of the port,in that area you will notice in some streets the calm atmosphere of the past.Formerly those houses were used to save the fishing boats and they were mainly residences of fishermen,while now many of them are occupied by shops.
The beautiful Eglise Notre-Dame de l'Assomption (Church of Our Lady of the Assumption) is a splendid Religious building in Baroque style and it was erected and dedicated to the Virgin in the year 1820 by Bishop Beausset.That construction presents a a white limestone facade,excellent architectonic lines and it is still very well preserved.
The interior has three naves with a vault of reinforced edges which are divided in four sections with arcades and a cornice surrounding the largest nave.The choir is housed in a rounded apse surrounded by wooden walls decorated with paintings.In the centre stands the main altar covered with marble and also presents an image in honour of the Virgin of Saint Tropez.
Saint- Tropez is naturally known for its beaches too.The Promenade des Plages (Beaches Promenade) is a long stroll through the peninsula,walking along the coast,admiring the beaches and the inlets of the resort.At the foot of Saint-Tropez,along that long line of soft sands,you can enjoy a walk of approximately 13,0 kilometres through the Bay of Canoubiers and the Gulf of Pampelonne which also offers over 16,0 kilometres of coastline to Cape Camarat.
At the entrance of Saint-Tropez the first beach you will see is the sandy beach of Plage La Bouillabaisse.In the same old neighbourhood of Ponche,between the two towers is situated the beach Plage de la Ponche which originally was a fishing port and later the main trade port during the 17th and 18th century.Plage de Graniers is another beach at the foot of the south side of the Citadelle after the graveyard of the sailors.That one despite it is a sort of a small cove which retains,even, a natural and wild aspect is very loved,picturesque and very special also for its size.Plage des Canoubiers is one of the largest and wide beaches,it runs along the road to Salins and its name comes from the hemp once grown in the area.Generally it is pretty busy but due the size it is possible to find a space.Plage de la Moutte is the ideal beach for families,very famous for its quiet and relaxing atmosphere and it is located after the Bay de Canoubieres.
Of a pinkish colour derived from coral fragments found in the sand is Plage de Les Salins,where a huge pine forest shades the coast,while in the nearest municipality in Ramatuelle, there are other 8,0 kilometres of sandy beaches,including the beautiful area of Pampelonne which offer another long string of splendid beaches lined by turquoise waters.
Some of the most beautiful local beaches give rise to magnificent local events the famed Bravades.The Bravade of May, in particular,is the communion of the whole population in the veneration of the Patron Saint and the celebration of the glorious feat of arms for the defence of the country by the Moorish attacks.The feast of the Bravade is considered one of the most important local festivals calling people from many French towns and abroad too.
There are two Bravades,on 16th May according historic events the Mayor of Pisa went in the city and he elected a captain on Easter Monday for one year.Volleys of guns are fired by the sailors and shots fired blunderbusses by the Musketeers while a priest blesses the weapons.
The Guards of the Saint took him in procession with sound of bells, fifes,drums,bugles in the cloud of powder shots of blunderbusses with the Bravadeurs arranged in a circle.
The day after, there is the mass of the Musketeers,it is time of the Bravadeurs who have a knife on which is fixed a small bouquet blessed.It is a long tradition of history and folklore since 1644.
The mayor and the priest involved with people dressed as musketeers and a procession moved to Saint-Tropez,the Saint Patron,the resort is very lively,music in every corner and musket shots.Including many VIPs could take advantage of the Bravade to maintain their status having a relevant position in the processions occupying privileged places.
Despite during the 2nd War the German during the occupation of the resort wanted to stop that event,the locals celebrated it,all that explains the strong cultural identity and traditions and what the inhabitants feel in occasion of that event.
Sailing and Regattas are also relevant protagonists in that glamorous centre of the French Riviera..All kinds of yachts,traditional and modern come to compete in a race famous worldwide,that international event takes place at the end of September.
The Regatta or Festival of Sailing brings together the authentic love for the navigation and the aristocracy with their traditional yachts are always present,numerous is the participation with swans,ketches and schooners built in 1920 and including stars or celebrities of Cinema do not miss that famed appointment.
Since its inception in the year 1981,over 250 competitors,most of whom have previously participated in the America's Cup are protagonists.Other events of relevance celebrated in the resort are as the Great Market Merchants, the Feast of the fishermen, the International Polo Cup and the Festival Nuits du Château des Moutte.
Saint.Tropez is also place of the famous Torpedo factory.In the year 1907, Schneider design in Saint-Tropez on the French studies and trials of torpedoes and decided to be located in the resort the centre of research and testing of torpedoes for the Navy.
The peculiarities of the coast,climate,environment were very suitable for tests of navigation.Since the year 1914 the Navy handles orders to the factory,that is is following to the Act of 1936 on the nationalisation of the manufacture of war materials which were taken by decrees expropriating Saint-Tropez and the Navy took possession of the factory on 4th February 1937.
The relationship between Saint-Tropez and prominent figure of different arts has always been very strong and intense.Painters,politicians,writers artists,French or foreign,many are the famous characters,including all those identified with the "New Wave" are temporarily came to live in Saint-Tropez or in the surrounding area.
Johnny Hallyday chose to live at Villa Lorada in Ramatuelle neighbourhood, Jean Paul Sartre, Boris Vian, Francoise Sagan and Colette lived in the Lattice Muscat, Brigitte Bardot in the famous Madrague,Paul Vialar chose the most rustic La Ponche and Paul Poiret had his residence in Villa Treizaine.
Saint- Tropez is also experiencing great success with the Maison de Papillons (House of the Butterflies) by Dany Lartigue, son of Jacques Henri Lartigue.The museum presents a collection of 4,500 butterflies.
Finally you can not forget the Cinema as several well-known films and founders of the Nouvelle Vague were shot in Saint-Tropez.Roger Vadim directed the famous Et Dieu crea la femme (And God Created Woman) starring Brigitte Bardot in 1956,others are Bonjour Tristesse filmed in the year 1958,Une fille pour l'eté filmed 1960 and furthermore the famed La Piscine dated the year 1969 starring Romy Schneider and Alain Delon was also set with success in the resort.
The city is also a mecca for shopping,with over 500 boutiques,what has most contributed to the prestige of the town,to give its reputation for luxury and fashion.
They focus primarily on the streets Gambetta, Sybil Allard,all the most prestigious brands are present from Louis Vuitton,Dior, Hermes,Chanel among others.The shops are frequented by many millionaires who apart on those streets can often be seen sitting with a drink on the deck of their luxury yachts in the harbour.
Nightlife in a place as Saint Tropez is naturally a relevant highlight and attraction.The Club Papagayo is a trendy club with a decoration which was changed in early summer of the year 2007,with DJ Eric Kaufmann and Queen Parisien,providing a very warm and trendy atmosphere which is inspired by the tropics.
The Club restaurant offers the best views of St Tropez, with 150 seats in the balcony,150 seats on the covered terrace and other 50 inside.The club has an area of 400 square meters suitable for 500 people.Another famous Club is Les Caves du Roy at the Byblos Hotel while Château de la Moutte offers In July and August,classical music and concerts in its gardens.If you love Piano Bar atmosphere a right place is undoubtedly Octave Cafe.Local cuisine is deeply liked to the traditional Provencal -Côte D´Azur Gastronomy,fresh fish and seafood and a notable use of aromatic herbs flavouring the most tastefully specialities,with a highlight the celebrated Bouilabaisse,that delicious fish stew,but also the famed anchovies which are the main ingredient of the superb Pissaladdière and the traditional Ratatouille.
Notable is also the local Stockfish prepared with vegetables which are also the main ingredients of the famed Salad Niçoise served as starter or accompanying different local specialities, and also included in the Pan-Bagnat,consisting in bread filled by onions and that genuine Mediterranean mixed salad
The famous Socca,similar to the Catalan Coca and the Genoese Focaccia is another culinary highlight,just like the Soup au Pistou consisting in a combination of numerous vegetables in which the basil is the basic and fundamental ingredient.
Notable is the high and fine selection of wines,with some very eclectic and versatile as Cassis,Bandol, Bellet and an excellent local Vermentino,next to local premier Syrah and Marsanne all of high quality.
The major international airport nearest airport is at Nice located at 91,0 Kilometres of distance while National connections can be made to the Airport Toulon - Hyeres.
The prestigious clientele favours the Airport of La Mole -Saint Tropez situated at 15,0 kilometres from the resort or in alternative using the airport of Cannes - Mandelieu located at 40,0 kilometres of distance or as further option the Heliport of Grimaud at Monaco.Maritime shuttles connect the port of Saint-Tropez to those of Grimaud, Sainte-Maxime, Frejus, St Raphael, Cannes and Nice.
Today Saint- Tropez,continues as in the past to be a very lively resort which retains its charm of the uniqueness to enchant the thousands of tourists visiting it every year,including for curiosity in an excursion during a day.
Saint-Tropez is synonymous of luxury,a vibrant nightlife at the harbour,the magnificent villas,elegance and Jet Set,but it is also a symbol of an extraordinary coastline,history,art,unforgettable sunsets,beautiful coastal paths and promenades.
That resort is a place to remember also with its eternal breaths of glitz and glamour and all that mosaic of things makes that place unique and so special in its kind, a great destination which never lost its captivating and unique appeal,continuing to live today as yesterday delighting a multitude of people.
Francesco Mari
Recommended Hotels in Saint-Tropez
Hotel Pan Dei Palais
Hotel Pastis Saint-Tropez
Hotel Chateau De La Messadiere
Hotel Lou Cagnard
Hotel Byblos Saint-Tropez
Hotel La Ponche
Hotel La Bastide De Saint-Tropez
Hotel La Mistralee
Hotel Le Colombier
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