Saint-Tropez

No place on the Côte d'Azur captures the imagination quite like Saint-Tropez. What was once a modest fishing village grew in the 1950s and 60s — thanks in part to Brigitte Bardot and the film 'Et Dieu créa la femme' — into a world-famous seaside resort where glamour, art and Mediterranean charm come together. Despite its fame, the little town has managed to preserve its picturesque character. From our apartment in old Le Suquet in Cannes, Saint-Tropez is an atmospheric day trip to the west, along one of the most beautiful stretches of coast on the Riviera. Discover more in our surroundings.

The old harbour

The beating heart of Saint-Tropez is the Vieux Port, the old harbour where pastel-coloured fishermen's houses, art galleries and terraces look out over an armada of gleaming yachts. Here you see and are seen, while painters display their work on the quay, just as their famous predecessors did. The contrast between the simple, ochre-coloured facades and the extravagant yachts typifies modern Saint-Tropez: a village that has never quite shed its humble origins, however fashionable it has become.

The old town and the Citadelle

Behind the harbour the streets of the old quarter of La Ponche wind upward, away from the bustle. Here you get a feel for the original fishing village, with narrow lanes, shutters in soft tones and quiet little squares. Stroll to the Place des Lices, the atmospheric square famous for its colourful market (Tuesday and Saturday mornings) and for the men playing pétanque under the plane trees. Above the village towers the sixteenth-century Citadelle, with a maritime museum and a splendid panorama over the gulf. Lovers of art should not miss the Musée de l'Annonciade, with work by pointillists such as Signac who immortalised the special light of Saint-Tropez.

The beaches of Pampelonne

Just outside the centre lie the legendary sandy beaches of Pampelonne, a kilometres-long strip of fine sand that is the cradle of the Riviera's fashionable beach clubs. From buzzing beach clubs to quiet public stretches: here you enjoy sun, sea and the famous Tropezienne lifestyle. The sun loungers, the music and the glittering sea make it a quintessential summer experience, though a quiet walk along the broad beach outside high season is every bit as lovely.

The peninsula and its villages

Saint-Tropez lies on a green peninsula that lends itself perfectly to a little exploration. Slightly inland you find atmospheric villages such as Ramatuelle and Gassin, with their narrow streets and views over vineyards and sea. The surroundings are rich in wine estates, and the rolling hills form a quiet counterbalance to the activity of the harbour. Anyone who wants to see more of nature can easily combine Saint-Tropez with a drive along the rugged coast that colours the shore between Cannes and Saint-Raphaël, as you can discover in our surroundings.

Practical

Saint-Tropez lies west of Cannes; by road it takes about an hour and a half, but in high season the boat is a relaxed and atmospheric alternative that avoids the traffic jams. Come early in the season or outside peak hours for the finest atmosphere and the easiest parking spot. Saint-Tropez is best discovered at a leisurely pace — a long lunch, a walk through La Ponche and a glance at the yachts are all part of it.

A day trip from Cannes

From our apartment in Le Suquet, an outing to Saint-Tropez — certainly by boat — is a highlight of a stay on the western side of the Riviera. Take a look at the apartment and the available dates, and discover from Cannes the chicest fishing village in the world.