Saint-Tropez

Visit Saint-Tropez, Provence

Saint Tropez started life as a sleepy fishing village - and then the superb quality of light here was discovered by neo-impressionist Paul Signac who built a house here and invited his friends to stay. Matisse and Dufy being just a couple of those who accepted his invitation. Word of the wonderful location around Saint Tropez quickly spread and in the 30s Cocteau, Colette and others arrived on the scene.

Then in the 50s and 60s Saint Tropez was discovered by Hollywood and has been a fashionable holiday location ever since.

Explore Saint-Tropez

Amazingly though when you arrive in Saint Tropez you can still see that sleepy fishing village that it once was.

The narrow streets wind back from the coast up to the citadel and the houses are all in the simple style of fisherman’s houses. They are painted in pale pastels ranging from pale cream to deep terracotta. Watch the sun set on those at the sea front and the effect is breathtaking.

Park your car in one of the central car parks (incidentally one of the shiniest, brightest multi-storey car parks I have ever been in - even the floor looked polished!) and head down to the port.

Here you can walk along the harbour and enjoy the sight of the lovely fishermen’s houses on one side - now boutiques and harbour-side restaurants - and large, expensive yachts on the other.

Make sure you wander along the ‘Mole Jean Reveille’, a quay sticking out from the town and allowing you to look back and get splendid views of Saint Tropez harbour.

Wandering into the town from the harbour the streets narrow and offer a little shade from the sun. Enjoy the many chic boutiques that Saint Tropez has to offer. On the Place Garezzo see the Chateau Suffren built in the late 15th Century.

Places to Visit in St Tropez

Other sights to see include the Port du Revelen, the Tour Jarlier, the eglise Notre Dame de L’Assomption with its pretty, and much photographed, bell tower and the 17th century Chapelle de la Misericorde.

On Tuesdays and Saturdays head to Place des Lices and enjoy the market.

Don’t forget to walk up to the citadel - no matter how hot it is and if you'd reather stay on the beach - the views from up here are superb. The Citadel itself was built in the 16th century during the Religious Wars. It costs a couple of euros to enter but is worth it - more for the 360° views than the citadel itself, though this is an attractive castle quite ‘moorish in style‘.

The Musee de l’Annonciade, back on the port, quite near the tourist office, was originally a chapel and is now a permanent art gallery with works by Matisse and Signac and most of the other artists who worked here. One of the best galleries in France for the neo-Impressionist era.

Saint Tropez beaches

Perhaps the most famous of the Saint-tropez beaches is the long sandy Baie de Pampelonne to the south of St Tropez. Along the edge of the beach are beach-side boutiques, cafes and clubs including Club 55 where visiting celebrities may head for a dance and a drink in the evening. Out to sea there are always a selection of yachts bobbing in the bay.

The Pampelonne beach played a key role in the Allied landings during ‘Operation Dragoon’, the Allied invasion of Southern France.

Closer to St Tropez are the Plage des Salins and Plage de la Moutte or further away and less crowded are Plage de l’Escalet and, near La Croix Valmer, the Plage Gigaro.

See Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur and Var (the region and department for Saint-Tropez) for more travel ideas...

Photos of Saint-Tropez

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Suggested places to visit near Saint-Tropez, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: La Croix-Valmer 9km; Grimaud 10km; Cavalaire-sur-Mer 14km; Roquebrune-sur-Argens 17km; Frejus 19km; Saint-Raphael 20km; Agay 25km; Les-Arcs-sur-Argens 25km; Cap Esterel 26km; Bormes-les-Mimosas 28km; Massif de l'Esterel 29km;

Saint-Tropez tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Jardin Germaine l’Hardy-Denonain - remarkable garden (7km) : Domaine du Rayol - remarkable garden (18km) : Frejus Cathedral cloisters - national monument (19km) : Cathédrale Saint Léonce (Frejus) - religious monument (19km) : Eglise de St Raphaël (Saint-Raphael) - religious monument (20km) : Abbaye du Thoronet (Le Thoronet) - religious monument (33km) : Jardin d’oiseaux tropicaux - remarkable garden (36km) : Parc du château de la Napoule - remarkable garden (37km) :

See more places and a map at places near Saint-Tropez