In what country is San Trope located? Saint Tropez
The resort town of Saint-Tropez needs little introduction, as the beauty of this Provençal port town has been glorified by 20th-century cinema.
Today, this sunny seaside town has a reputation as one of the most fashionable and visited resorts Cote d'Azur, in no way inferior to such recognized tourist destinations like Cannes, Antibes and Nice.
However, this circumstance has forever deprived the city of its former colorfulness of Provençal seclusion, so beloved in its time by the great cohort of French film celebrities: Alain Delon, Brigitte Bardot, Yves Montand, etc. Now here you can dance on tables, douse yourself with champagne and break dishes, without being embarrassed by all of the above, this place allows you to feel forever young, which is why travelers love it.
Picturesque pine groves and luxurious sandy beaches border the Saint-Tropez peninsula, which can be explored on foot along numerous paths. In the vicinity of Saint-Tropez, there are villas of famous actors, artists, bankers and couturiers, and in the very center there is a narrow cobbled promenade, always crowded with people sunbathing and savoring local aperitifs on the terraces of numerous cafe, next to which luxury yachts are parked closely.
In addition, if you turn down the first street you come across in the Old Town, you will find many pleasant gastronomic establishments, including shops selling aromatic herbs, Provençal spices, marinas and handicrafts. In the evening, the embankment turns into a real vernissage and podium for the secular public, and all the relish of Dolce Vita should be found in fashionable restaurants and nightclubs outside the city - on the world famous beach de Pampelonne.
History of the city of Saint-Tropez
The first settlement on the site of the current city of Saint-Tropez was founded in the 2nd century BC. The city received its current name in honor of the Holy Great Martyr Torpis, who was beheaded in the 60s of the 1st century during the persecution of Christians in the area of modern Pisa. According to the life, his body was placed in an old boat along with a rooster and a dog, which washed ashore on the site of the modern city.
In the 10th century, the city was part of the pirate emirate of Fraxinet, and since the 980s, it has been under the jurisdiction of the County of Provence. To protect the coast, the counts erected a small fortress, which has survived to this day in a rebuilt form.
At the end of the 15th century, Saint-Tropez was transferred to the private ownership of the Grimaud family of barons. In 1637, the city residents repulsed an attack by 22 Spanish galleons. In honor of this battle, a traditional procession is still held in the city today. In the 1920-1930s, the artist Paul Signac settled in a villa in Saint-Tropez, where other famous artists and painters subsequently began to gather.
Until the 1950s, Saint-Tropez was little different from other similar fishing settlements and was unknown to the general public. The city gained its current popularity, especially among wealthy people, in 1956, when the famous film “And God Created Woman” starring Brigitte Bardot was filmed in Saint-Tropez.
Today, the basis of the economy of Saint-Tropez is summer tourism. The city has a Museum of Modern Art and a fortress of the 16th-17th centuries, however, the main focus is still beach holidays.
Sights of Saint-Tropez
The main attraction of Saint-Tropez is considered Old Port(Le Vieux Port), completely restored after its destruction during the Second World War, is the calling card of the city. IN given time it's quite picturesque tourist site, surrounded by chic cafes, with expensive yachts, marinas, and people parading along the embankment in haute couture outfits, always crowded.
The French themselves often dismissively call this theatrical place a “human zoo,” but this does not mean that it should be neglected when in Saint-Tropez. It is worth a visit, at least to form a personal opinion.
But located above the port Souffren castle(Le Chateau de Suffren) (construction began already in 980), the ancient gates on the rue de la Ponche and the open square around the citadel of Saint-Tropez (XVI century, now housing the municipal history museum) will show the true appearance of the resort town.
Fabulous Announcement Museum(Musee de l "Annonciade) (open daily except Thursday, December-June: 10.00-12.00 and 14.00-18.00; July-October 10.00-13.00 and 15.00-19.00; entrance fee - 6 euros), housed in a former chapel of the 16th century , which is located in Place Georges-Grammont right next to the port, displays the artistic creations of many painters, for whom resort town Saint-Tropez became a place of inspiration.
And a little further from the port, on rue Etienne Berny, is the Maison des Papillons (Butterfly Museum, open from April to October, from Monday to Saturday, from 14.30 to 18.00; entrance - 3 euros), the exhibition of which consists of more than 4 500 thousand specimens of insects, including their rare and endangered species.
Entertainment and shopping in Saint-Tropez
The resort town of Saint-Tropez and its surroundings have both wild sandy and private well-equipped beaches, offering ample opportunities for yachting, windsurfing and water skiing.
At night, restaurants, music bars and cafes, as well as a large number of discos and nightclubs, are open to guests and regulars. In the beach restaurant “Club 55” tourists can still find tables under canvas tents with blue linen tablecloths, as in the time of cutie Bardot, and the Apero & Music Live Port club will always delight you with live performances of world vocalists.
Clubhouse Papagayo is ideal for discerning cocktail tasters, and Les Caves du Roy is worth a trip to meet celebrities, but Stefano Forever is the best cabaret on the coast.
IN summer season in Saint-Tropez there is an amusement park, and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays on its main square An excellent market is opening. You can find almost everything there, from homemade sausages, seafood, cheeses to beautiful flowers. The best place to swim in Saint-Tropez is on the beaches of Cap Camaras, which can be reached by boat. Relative privacy and pure water guaranteed even in the most competitive season.
For shopping lovers, Saint-Tropez has a promenade with a huge number of boutiques and shops of world-famous trading houses and fashion designers. High fashion from Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, jewelry masterpieces from Gas Andre, decorative interior subtleties from Marinette, etc.
Representatives of the fair sex should visit Brigitte Bardot's boutique (on the road from Place es Lices to the old port); you can also find something original in La Chemise Tropezienne (23, rue Gambetta). For men, Maison Blanc Bleu on Place es Lices is ideal. Every year in the last week of October, Saint-Tropez hosts a large-scale hyper-sale of clothing and accessories from world fashion brands (La Grande Braderie); during this period, prices here do not exceed an acceptable 90-100 euros for a quality item from Hugo Boss or Versace.
Arriving in the city of Saint-Tropez, the first thing you should do is go for Tropeziennes slippers at the famous Les Tropeziennes store. These flat slippers are made from a variety of leathers.
Beaches of Saint-Tropez
Another “pole of life” in Saint-Tropez is Place des Lices with its luxurious bars, restaurants and cafes - located south of the Old Port. Very nearby, at the foot of the citadel, is the most accessible beach of the city - Les Graniers.
From here, the coastal boulevard leads to Canebier Bay with the small and almost always crowded beaches of Cap Saint-Pierre, Bon-Terrace, Cap-Saint-Tropez, Les Salins (Les Salines) and the famous Tahiti Plage (this is already 11 kilometers from center).
From the edge of the latter, an almost straight five-kilometer stretch of Pampelonne beach originates - an internationally recognized topless recreation center, framed by an endless line of bars and restaurants.
Adorable, charming, delightful! It is precisely these epithets that one would like to use when it comes to a small resort town in the south of France - Saint-Tropez. It’s a pleasure to talk about this delight for vacationers and filmmakers, so we won’t linger too long on the introduction, but move straight to detailed description wonderful place.
Location of the famous resort
Mediterranean Sea, 43°16′00″ north latitude and 6°37′99″ east longitude - these are the dry geographical data on the location of the famous resort. Finding Saint-Tropez on a map of France is not very easy. This tiny fashionable town is lost in the middle of a huge town and is located next to such mega-popular holiday centers as Nice and Cannes.
From Cannes to Saint-Tropez is only 41 km, and the distance to Nice is much greater - 90 km. Another name on the map that San-Tropes will help you find with your eyes is Port Grimaud - a small charming village built right on the water and nicknamed the Venice of Provence for this reason.
History of Saint-Tropez
This is a city with a long history. Saint-Tropez owes its name to the Holy Great Martyr Torpis, who during the persecution of Christians in the 1st century was beheaded by order of the dictator Nero. And although the execution took place in the Pisa area, the boat with the body of St. Thorpis washed ashore in the very place where a modern fashionable resort was subsequently formed.
At the end of the 15th century. The owners of San-Tropes were the Grimaud family. There is one date in the history of the town that is annually celebrated with a solemn parade: in 1637, the residents of Saint-Tropez repelled an attack by a Spanish flotilla consisting of 22 galleons.
Previously, San-Tropes was, rather, not a city, but an ordinary fishing settlement, which did not stand out in any way among the numerous other coastal villages of Provence. The artist was the first to discover the beauty of this place, settling here in the 20s of the last century. Since then, famous representatives of the artistic bohemia have frequented it.
Saint-Tropez attractions
The city offers its guests an extensive and interesting cultural program. There is a lot to see in this place. For example, all tourists strive to visit the unique butterfly museum, which displays more than 4,500 specimens of these beautiful insects, including very rare and endangered species. Maison des Papillons is open to the public from April to October.
For people who know a lot about art, there is an opportunity to get to the Musée de l "Annonciade, where there is a wonderful exhibition of works by artists inspired to create by the beauty of these places. After all, it is known that many famous and talented painters loved to live and create in Saint-Tropez. The attractions don't stop at butterflies and artistic landscapes.
Curious travelers can visit Old Port, which is the calling card of the town. This is a very busy place with many expensive yachts moored. There are large and small chic cafes and shops around, and a motley, elegant crowd strolls around. It flaunts right above the port old castle Suffren. Its construction began back in 980. And next to the castle there is a large open square where the historical museum is located.
Glorious cinematic past
As already mentioned, Saint-Tropez was once not so popular and famous. But in 1956, the legendary film director Roger Vadim shot there the film “And God Created Woman” with the inimitable leading role. Since then, fame has fallen on the town, and it has become a real cinematic Mecca.
In the 60s of the last century, a whole series of magnificent
French comedies about gendarmes, in which one of the best comedians of all time played - And in 1968, the film “The Swimming Pool” was released on world screens, starring Alain Delon, the action of this detective story also takes place in Saint-Tropez. France can be proud of such a cultural heritage.
All the mentioned film masterpieces literally glorified this place. The town was chosen by wealthy travelers and yachtsmen. Now it is one of the most prestigious and expensive resort places in the world, and many dream of seeing at least one glimpse of Saint-Tropez. By the way, you can take a photo for memory near the old building where the famous gendarmerie from old films was located.
San-Tropes: beaches, shopping and entertainment
Of course, this seaside resort town has beautiful beaches. Moreover, there are both luxurious sandy “wild” ones and private ones, specially equipped for yachting, windsurfing, water skiing and others. sports entertainment. Les Graniers can be considered the most accessible beach; it is located at the foot of the fortress next to the port.
The Bay of Canebier is dotted with small, crowded holiday destinations: Bon-Terrace, Cap-Saint-Pierre, Les Salins, Cap-Saint-Tropez and Tahiti-Plage. A few kilometers from the city center is the famous five-kilometer Pampelonne beach - a place where it is customary to sunbathe and swim topless.
Busy life does not subside during the summer season in Saint-Tropez, even at night. Numerous restaurants, cafes, music bars, nightclubs and discos are open for vacationers. The beach restaurant "Club 55" is very popular among tourists, where everything has been preserved almost in the same condition as during the filming of the film with Brigitte Bardot. Papagayo Club is a favorite among discerning cocktail tasters. At Apero & Music Live Port there is always music and world-famous celebrities performing.
Saint-Tropez also has an excellent amusement park with the most modern attractions. Three days a week there is a market in the main city square where you can buy the freshest seafood, homemade sausages, cheeses, wines and much more. Well, for shopping lovers, this resort town has such a huge number of shops and boutiques that buyers will certainly be satisfied.
Note for travelers
Many experienced travelers advise visiting Saint-Tropez not in summer, but in spring or autumn. the Velvet season. At this time there are fewer people, less traffic jams and a cleaner sea.
The resort can be reached by car or bus from Nice Airport, which is 100 km from San-Tropes. Taking into account traffic jams in the summer season, the journey can take from 2 to 3 hours. It is convenient to get to Saint-Tropez by bus from San Raphael, Cannes, Toulon or Nice.
Saint-Tropez is one of the most popular modern sea resorts Europe, the pearl and the whole south of France. The city is located 76 kilometers from and is favorite place holidays with celebrities from all over the world. The popularity of this small settlement, whose population is about 6,000 people, came at the end of the 19th century, when local landscapes captivated the talented artist Paul Signac, and became the main theme in his canvases. In this city, he invented a completely new technique of drawing with dots - pointillism. Later, in search of inspiration, his colleagues began to flock here: Chris van Dongen, Pierre Bonnard, Henri Matisse. The magnificent works of these modernists served as an excellent advertisement for the entire European aristocracy, which moved here from Cannes.
The tiny picturesque bay became even more famous in the middle of the 20th century thanks to the film “And God Created Woman,” filmed here, in which the inimitable Brigitte Bardot played the main role. The main worldwide popularity came to the resort after the release of the first comedy films with Louis de Funes about a gendarme from Saint-Tropez. The city became recognizable and tourists from all over the world flocked here. Today, the main focus of the settlement is tourism, so the tourism infrastructure here is well-functioning and offers luxurious holidays and impeccable service.
- Area: 11 km²;
- Time zone: UTC+1, summer UTC+2;
- Population: 4,500.
Climatic features
The resort is located in a mild Mediterranean climate, with fairly warm winters and cool summers. Average temperatures in January are +10⁰C, and in July the thermometer rises to +25⁰C. Largest quantity precipitation occurs between December and February. In autumn and spring the weather is pleasantly warm. As a rule, water in the coastal zone warms up to air temperature. 
Transport accessibility
The city has its own airport serving only charter flights. The nearest international air port is in Nice, 100 kilometers from Saint-Tropez. You can get to the resort by rented car, by train - getting to San Rafael, and then transfer to a bus going to Saint-Tropez, or on a regular bus in the summer season speed boat. There is no railway connection to the resort. In the city itself public transport No.
Selection favorable air tickets through Aviadiscounter (searches like Aviasales + a selection of airline promotions and sales).
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Historical reference
Archaeologists date the first settlements in this area to the 2nd century BC. Scientists' findings indicate that there was a Greek colony in this area. From the 1st to the 10th centuries AD locality was subjected to repeated destruction by the Arabs who settled in this part of Europe. From the middle of the 11th century, power over the city passed to the monks from Saint-Victor, who restored it and returned it to full life. However, the internecine wars of the princes of Provence devastated the city until the 15th century. By the beginning of the 16th century, the Genoese architect Pornazo de Garezzo erected powerful fortress walls that surrounded and protected Saint-Tropez on all sides. Since that time, the settlement received the status of an independent republic and began to establish trade relations with Africa and countries East Asia. Until the 19th century, the city was inhabited by merchants, fishermen and shipowners. After the “discovery” of Saint-Tropez by artists and aristocrats, luxurious mansions, villas, hotels, brand stores and many entertainment venues began to appear here. 
Beaches
First of all, Saint-Tropez is, although small, but famous resort coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and its main attraction is its luxurious beaches with well-developed infrastructure. Most large beach city - Pompelonne, representing 6 kilometers sandy shore, with dozens of small, well-equipped private beaches. For a complete quality rest classes are offered to guests aquatic species sports: windsurfing, yachting and water skiing. For those who have poor command of a boat or sailboat, experienced instructors will always help. In addition, on the coast there is a huge number of all kinds of restaurants, bars and fashionable clubs that organize night parties under open air. However, along with these popular and glamorous holiday destinations, Saint-Tropez also has secluded coves with wild beaches, where you can hide away from prying eyes and fully enjoy warm sea, soft golden sand and luxurious surrounding nature.
All city beaches have rescue and medical stations, parking lots, showers, toilets, changing cabins, umbrellas and mats or sun loungers. The official opening of the beaches takes place annually on June 15, and closing on September 15. 
What to see
Besides the excellent beach holiday, in the city you can see several interesting historical monuments and museums. The art museum houses a rich collection of paintings painted in the 20th century by contemporary avant-garde artists.
In an ancient fortress of the 16th century, well preserved to this day, there is a Maritime Museum, which presents in detail the history of the city. The exhibits here include ship models, rich collections of weapons and amphoras, and paintings by marine painters. From the top of the fortress, located on a hill, there are beautiful views not only of the whole of Saint-Tropez, but also of the majestic snow-white peaks of the Alps. 
The visiting card of the city is the Old Port. Almost completely destroyed during the Second World War, today it has been restored and appears before guests and residents of the city in all its glory. This picturesque tourist site is surrounded by chic cafes and expensive yachts near the pier. And of course, as in any seaside resort, in Saint-Tropez you cannot ignore the embankment, which offers stunning views of the endless sea and where you can easily take a photo of some vacationing celebrity. 
One of the largest collections of butterflies in all of Europe is located in this city Cote d'Azur. The unique museum “House of Butterflies” has about 20,000 various exhibits of these flying insects. A collection of 4,500 butterflies, assembled by the museum's founder, Dani Larting, son of the famous photographer Jacques Henry Larting, still adorns the hall's stands to this day. Many insects, including the rarest species, Lepidoptera, classified as endangered, flutter in specially equipped greenhouses. The museum is located in a large mansion that once belonged to Madeleine “Bibi”, the first wife of Jacques Henry Larting. The museum also has a huge ant colony, tirelessly building anthills, and big family tarantula spiders living in a separate terrarium. The bravest visitors can establish contact with insects - hold them in their hands and stroke them. The halls are especially beautiful and exotic South America, Africa and Oceania. A visit to the museum will be interesting not only for children, but also for adults. The Butterfly House opens its doors to visitors from April to October. 
In the summer, the city has a wonderful amusement park with many attractions that delight children, and three times a week a large market opens on the main square of Saint-Tropez, walking through which you can find almost everything: from homemade sausages, cheeses and seafood, to souvenirs and the most beautiful bouquets of flowers.
And of course, Saint-Tropez is a paradise for shopping lovers, who will definitely not be indifferent to the presence of large malls, brand stores and boutiques offering the latest fashion items for sale. designer clothes. A selection of luxurious and elegant outfits presented in shopping centers Saint-Tropez amazes even sophisticated shopaholics. Every year, on the last Sunday of October, a massive sale begins in the city and you can buy a high-quality branded item for less than half the price. 
If you are bored with beaches and a relaxing holiday, then you can go exploring interesting places located in the outskirts of the city. small town Cogolan is a popular center for handicrafts. Here you can clearly see the simple life of ordinary people living in the south of France, appreciate their talents and skills, and also purchase original handmade products.
Another popular one tourist place a few kilometers from the resort is the port of Grimaud, which is a large marina in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, accommodating more than a thousand yachts. Many compare the port with Venice - numerous bridges, canals, motor yachts and villas remind of this romantic city. This coincidence is not at all accidental - Grimaud was built in the 60s of the 20th century by the architect Francois Spory, according to whose designs the port should resemble Venice in miniature. Anyone can organize boat trip accompanied by experienced guides and sailors. 
Saint-Maxime is a small resort located next to Saint-Tropez. Less glamorous and pretentious, it is also famous for its luxurious sandy beaches and magnificent incendiary parties and discos. The city is famous for the Museum of Photography and Mechanical Music, which displays an excellent collection of ancient musical mechanisms. There is also an amusement park for children and adults called Aqualand.
Saint-Tropez regularly hosts various festivals, holidays and carnivals, celebrated with great scope and pomp. In general, every day in this city is a real holiday, like a fairy tale. A holiday in Saint-Tropez will leave a lot of positive emotions and vivid impressions in your memory for a long time.
Services for tourists that will allow you to save or get more for the same money:
- Insurance: the journey begins with choosing a profitable insurance company, and.
Saint-Tropez (Saint-Tropez) in France needs no introduction: for several decades, the former fishing village on the Mediterranean coast, in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, has been considered one of the most fashionable and attractive European resorts.
Rich people and celebrities park their yachts here, and appearing a couple of times a summer in local waters or partying in one of the trendy clubs at a crazy party is considered good manners for a great variety of socialites - from A-list Hollywood actors to the nouveau riche from all continents and supermodels.
Saint-Tropez, however, has not ceased to be essentially a small seaside village with a population of just over 4.5 thousand people. Only around it has grown an impressive infrastructure, “tailored” for the recreation of rich or simply wealthy people - the sale and rental of yachts, villas, expensive hotels, fashionable clubs and best restaurants with Michelin-starred chefs, companies specializing in security, concierge service and other VIP services. By the way, in the summer, in July and August, the number of vacationers in Saint-Tropez reaches impressive figures for such a small resort - 100 thousand people!
Doesn't reach Saint-Tropez Railway, which cuts off some of the tourists who travel only by public transport.
You can get here by water on boats, by car (without avoiding huge traffic jams at the entrance to Saint-Maxime and Saint-Tropez) or even more comfortably - by personal or rented helicopter, since there is a small airport here.
Holidays in Saint-Tropez, if we compare approximately equal accommodation facilities, it will cost at least 25-30% more than in Cannes and even more so in Nice - simply because of the “brand”. The same applies to prices in restaurants and shops: rest assured, when ordering a glass of wine or beer in a restaurant on the promenade of Saint-Tropez, you are paying primarily for the opportunity to drink it in this glamorous place, and for nothing else. So this resort, with all the democracy of some other places on the Cote d'Azur, is suitable for relaxation only if you do not look into your wallet. Prices for hotel rooms are especially high in July and August, as well as during high-profile events such as regattas, international polo tournaments, golf, concerts, etc.
How to get to Saint-Tropez 2019
A few hours are enough to see and walk around the entire center of Saint-Tropez (and still have enough time for a leisurely lunch). Therefore, if you are just going here for a walk, then There are several ways to get to Saint-Tropez on your own:
- By SNCF train to San Rafael(this is 32 kilometers from Saint-Tropez), then by bus to Saint-Tropez (No. 7601 St-Tropez - Ste-Maxime - St-Raphael)
- By SNCF train from Marseille (Gare Saint-Charles) to Toulon on the following trains No. 1 - MARSEILLE - TOULON - HYERES, No. 2 - MARSEILLE - LES ARCS DRAGUIGNAN, No. 6 - MARSEILLE - NICE - VENTIMIGLIA. From Toulon you then in turn need to travel to Saint-Tropez by bus.
By car on the A8 highway. This method is one of the best, if you do not take into account possible traffic jams at the entrance to Saint-Maxime located next to Saint-Tropez and the resort itself. You can park in Saint-Tropez at the entrance to it in a large paid parking lot opposite the port, from where you can leisurely walk to the center of the embankment - 3-5 minutes.
You can choose in advance and book a car for traveling around France here:
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Transfer to Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez is a picturesque Provencal port town, famous for the cinema of the 20th century. Well, who doesn’t remember the blonde beauty Brigitte Bardot from “And God Created Woman”, the eccentric gendarme Louis de Funes and the random killer with a “dangerous” umbrella performed by Pierre Richard. Today this sunny seaside town has a reputation as a fashionable star resort. But this circumstance forever deprived him of the colorful Provençal seclusion, so beloved in his time by the great cohort of French film celebrities: Alain Delon, Brigitte Bardot, Yves Montand, etc. Now here you can dance on the tables, pour yourself over with champagne and break dishes, and not be shy about all of the above - this place makes you feel forever young, which is why they love it.
Magnificent pine groves and sandy beaches fringe the Saint-Tropez peninsula, which can be explored on foot along numerous scenic paths. In its surroundings there are villas of famous actors, artists, bankers and couturiers, and in the very core there is a narrow cobbled embankment, always full of people strolling, sunbathing and local aperitifs on the terraces of numerous cafes and contemplating rows of luxury yachts parked closely. However, if you turn onto the first street you come across in the Old Town, you will find many quiet, pleasant gastronomic establishments and shops with fragrant herbs, Provençal spices, marinas and handicrafts. In the evening, the embankment turns into a real vernissage and podium for the secular public, and all the relish of Dolce Vita should be found in fashionable restaurants and clubs outside the city - on the legendary beach de Pampelonne.
6 things to do in Saint Tropez
- Recognize cinematic landscapes and pretend to be Richard and de Funes at the same time.
- Visit the Butterfly House and learn more about Lepidoptera from around the world.
- Buy items signed by B.B. at Brigitte Bardot's boutique.
- Head to Pampelonne Beach and feel rich and famous.
- Feel the modest charm of the bourgeoisie during the Sailing Regatta or the Porsche Parade.
- Try mesclun salad in one of the pompous restaurants on the embankment.
Phone numbers
8-10-33-4-phone number
How to get there
Before international airport Nice is approximately 100 km from here, but during the season, due to traffic jams, the transfer to Saint-Tropez takes 2-3 hours. There is a bus from San Rafael, Toulon, Nice or Cannes; ferry from San Maxime (20 minutes and 8 EUR), Grimaud (29 minutes, 4 EUR) or San Rafael (50 minutes, 4-5 EUR).
Prices on the page are as of August 2018.
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History of Saint-Tropez
The city owes its name to St. Tropis (Trophim), a Christian martyr who was beheaded during the time of Nero. The boat with the body of the saint washed up on the shore of the bay, where he found eternal peace in the temple-tomb. In 1637, the inhabitants of Saint-Tropez repulsed an attack by 22 Spanish galleons.
On this glorious occasion, every year on July 15, Saint-Tropez hosts a colorful “bravado” procession, La Fete du Capitaine de Ville: a brass band marches through the streets to the cheers and cries of the crowd, and men of all ages gather in front of the city hall and shoot into the air from ancient guns.
But until the end of the 19th century, the city still remained a quiet, inconspicuous settlement of fishermen and winemakers. Until it was discovered by the impressionist brethren by pointillist Paul Signac: his peaceful, harmonious landscapes of the 1920s attracted Chris van Dongen, Pierre Bonnard, and Henri Matisse. Their works played the role of impeccable advertising for the European aristocracy, which now preferred the tiny picturesque bay to Nice and Cannam.
The second round of the resort's ever-increasing popularity was the filming of Roger Vadim's And God Created Woman in 1956, which introduced a new type of secluded bohemian existence between luxurious modern interiors and the sun-drenched cliffs and beaches of St. Tropez. Movie stars, directors and film crews flocked to the bay with new script ideas, instilling a new culture of riotous fun in the resort. So the town became overgrown with drinking establishments with dancing on the tables and the glory of relaxed permissiveness. Brigitte Bardot also celebrated her 40th birthday in Saint-Tropez - at Club 55 on Plage de Pampelonne.
Representatives of the fair sex will be interested in visiting Brigitte Bardot's boutique (on the road from Place es Lices to the old port), and you can always find something original in La Chemise Tropézienne (23, rue Gambetta).
Weather in Saint-Tropez
Entertainment and shopping
Saint-Tropez and its surroundings have both wild sandy and private, well-equipped beaches, offering ample opportunities for yachting, windsurfing, and water skiing.
At night, restaurants, music bars and cafes, a large number of discos and night clubs are open to the delight of guests and regulars. In the beach restaurant “Club 55” you will still find tables under canvas tents and blue linen tablecloths, as in the time of cutie Bardot, and the Apero & Music Live Port club will always delight you with live performances of world vocalists. Clubhouse Papagayo is for discerning cocktail tasters, Les Caves du Roy is the place to meet celebrities, and the best cabaret on the coast is Stefano Forever.
In the summer, the town has an amusement park, and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays there is an excellent market in its main square. There is everything: homemade sausages, seafood, cheeses and very beautiful flowers. The best place to swim in Saint-Tropez is on the beaches of Cap Camaras, which can be reached by boat. Relative privacy and clean water are guaranteed even in the highest season.
For shopping lovers, there is a promenade with boutiques of world-famous trading houses and fashion designers. High fashion from Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, jewelry masterpieces from Gas André, decorative interior subtleties from Marinette, etc. The fair sex will be interested in visiting Brigitte Bardot's boutique (on the road from Place es Lices to the old port), as well as something the original always shows up at La Chemise Tropézienne (23, rue Gambetta). For men, Maison Blanc Bleu on Place es Lices is suitable. In the last week of October, Saint-Tropez hosts a citywide hyper-sale of clothing and accessories from fashion brands La Grande Braderie, at which time prices here do not exceed an acceptable 90-120 EUR for a quality item from BOSS or Versace.
Arriving in Saint-Tropez, the first thing you should do is go shopping for “Tropeziennes” slippers at the famous Les Tropeziennes store. These flat slippers are made from a variety of leathers.
Maps of Saint-Tropez
Local kitchen
In Saint-Tropez, you should try the delicacies of Provence: a salad of dandelion leaves, chicory and herbs - “Mesclun”, olive and anchovy paste, seasoned with various spices - tapenade (with a slice of fresh or toasted bread), ratatouille, stuffed leg of lamb and beef simmered in red wine with herbs.
Bouillabaisse is the king of seaside Provençal cuisine; it is a very rich and well-seasoned soup made from a motley family of all kinds of fish and sea creatures (mullet, redfish, monkfish, sea scorpion, seafood, lobster, etc.).
At the local market you should buy olive oil, olives, garlic, herbs (thyme, rosemary, sage), lamb, seafood, truffles, macaroons, local baked goods and marmalade made from fruit juices. Try here the soft sheep's, goat's or cow's milk cheese Poivre d'Ane, the small aromatic goat cheese Buchette de Banon and the herbed goat cheese Cabri aux Epices.
Guides in Saint-Tropez
Popular hotels in Saint-Tropez
Entertainment and attractions in Saint-Tropez
Start your walk from the Old Town. Here, in the immediate vicinity of the port, in the Notre-Dame de l'Annonciade chapel (1568), there is the Musée de l'Annonciade art gallery, representing a rich collection of avant-garde artists (Fauves, pointillists, representatives of the Nabi group) who lived and worked in Saintes -Tropez from 1890 to 1950. Here you will find paintings by Signac, Matisse, Bonnard, Picabia, Vlaminck and many others. etc., and you will be able to trace the history of the formation of the European visual arts first half of the 20th century.
From the La Ponche quarter you can climb to the 16th century Citadel, which helped the Tropizians repel the naval onslaught of the Spaniards in 1637. Wonderful views open up from here panoramic views to the bay and mountain range des Maures. The main tower of the fort, dating from 1602-1605, houses the local Maritime Museum, which tells about the glorious military and navigational past of the region.
Deep in the old narrow street of Etienne Berny, you will find the one-of-a-kind Museum "House of Butterflies", displaying the extraordinary collection of insects by the artist and son of famous photographer Dany Lartigue. The first hall is dedicated to exotic butterflies from Africa, Oceania and South America, the second floor hall is dedicated to the beautiful lepidoptera of European latitudes. In total, the museum's entomological collection includes about 20 thousand representatives of this family.
At the beginning of September in Saint-Tropez, as part of the European seasons, the Polo Gold Cup takes place, October opens with a traditional sailing regatta, and the middle of the month is the time of the annual Paradis Porsche parade, which attracts more than 300 cars of the famous brand from Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Sweden and Great Britain.
Saint Tropez
Excursions from Saint-Tropez
Neighboring Saint-Tropez are the picturesque Provençal villages of Ramatuelle, Gassin and Grimaud, where it is pleasant to stroll along the colorful winding streets, admire the facades of buildings from the Templar era, look into a couple of artistic studios and enjoy a glass of chilled rose wine in a random cafe with blue shutters.
The resort town of Saint-Maxime, famous for its beaches and entertainment, is worth visiting for the unique Museum of Gramophones and Mechanical Music, which houses a collection of ancient mechanical musical instruments. And the charming Cogolin, lost in the des Maures mountain range, is famous for its workshops making smoking pipes, wind instruments, silk threads and woolen carpets.
