Want to visit St Tropez? Excellent idea! This small village of 4,000 inhabitants is full of hidden resources. Downtown alleys, hidden squares, museums, traditions to discover, coastal paths - let yourself be guided!
The old part
Yes, Saint Tropez does have an old town! Discover the 15th and 16th century section and immerse yourself in Tropezian history. Built in ancient times by the Phoceans, then by the Romans, Saint Tropez was deserted in the Middle Ages due to the danger of the sea.
A deed of rebirth was signed between Jean Cossa, Seigneur du Golfe de Saint Tropez and Raphael de Garezzio. 21 Italian families, followed by some 40 Provencal families, rebuilt the town of Saint Tropez from 1470 onwards, providing an army to protect the gulf. In return, the city of Saint Tropez was exempted from taxes and charges levied by the Kingdom of France. This independence lasted until 1670, when Louis XIV decided not to extend the treaty.
Saint Tropez's narrow 15th-century streets (Rue Saint Esprit, Rue du puits,...), Genoese towers, squares and streets redesigned after the removal of the ramparts (Place de l'Ormeau, Rue des Remparts, Place aux Herbes,...) remain from this period.
Discover Saint Tropez with a private guided tour or a shared tour: Les petits voyage d'Azur
La Ponche
Famous district of Saint Tropez, home to the whole of Saint Germain des Prés from 1950 onwards.
Claude François worked there before Belle, belle, belle
Boris Vian and Juliette Greco launched the jazz club Saint Germain des Prés La Ponche
Françoise Sagan stayed here regularly after the release of Bonjour Tristesse
Picasso liked to visit the Hôtel de la Ponche when he came to see his friend Paul Eluard.
Above all, Brigitte Bardot made a major contribution to the notoriety of the area and Saint Tropez with her film And God created woman
« In the background, the blue silhouettes of the Maures and Esterel mountains, I've got something to work on for the rest of my life - it's happiness I've just discovered!. » - Paul Signac, pointillism painter
Painters and Saint Tropez
Saint Tropez would not be what it is today without the arrival of Guy de Maupassant and Paul Signac.
Guy de Maupassant discovered Saint Tropez on a boat trip, which he recounted in his book Sur l'eau.
Paul Signac arrived in Saint Tropez aboard his yacht Olympia in 1892. His arrival turned the lives of the local people upside down. He invited many of his artist friends to stay at his villa La Hune in Saint Tropez. This new "School of Saint-Tropez" led to the development of Divisionism and, above all, a new use of color and light.
Have you noticed the exceptional light that falls on the village? The port's unusual northerly orientation allows intense light to fall on the façades and on the sea at the end of the day.
Art is still very important in Saint Tropez. Art galleries in the old town, artists on the harbor, the Musée de l'Annonciade, numerous exhibitions and concerts are all part and parcel of Tropezian life.
A wild choice of museums
The Citadelle
This fortress dominates Saint Tropez from the hill of Moulins, allowing you to admire the rooftops of the village. Push open the door of the Citadelle and discover its exceptional military architecture. It houses the town's maritime history museum. Ship models, relief maps, explanations of the Tropezians' glorious past... History buffs and children alike will be delighted. Listen to... Can you hear the peacocks greeting you on your arrival?
The Annonciade museum
Housed in the former chapel of the Annonciade, this museum is an artistic gem. Created on the initiative of Paul Signac and Henri Person, it is brimming with Pointillist, Nabis and Fauvist paintings, as well as representations of Saint Tropez. Don't miss the many workshops and tours organized by the museum.
The cinema museum
If you know the french movies, go and visit this musuem. References about the famous movie with Louis de Funes : le gendarme à Saint Tropez but also about Brigitte Bardot and Romy Schneider with the movies And God created woman and The Pool
The house of butterflies
In a narrow street of Saint Tropez, discover this collection of butterflies
The tropezienne coast
There are 1001 ways to discover the beauty of the coast during your day in Saint Tropez.
Coming by boat makes your arrival magical!
A walk along the wild, rocky coastal path, where you can take a break for a swim.
A boat trip to discover the Baie des Canebiers or the wild Capes de l'Escalet
A magical daytrip in Saint Tropez
There's much more to St Tropez than beaches, parties and boutiques. If the first artists (painters, writers, actors) came here, it was simply for the beauty of the site and the kindness of the Tropezians. Come and discover this place through the eyes of its inhabitants - this is the real Saint Tropez! And along the way, don't forget to try some of the Tropezian specialties, like the Tarte Tropézienne!
No sponsorship in the links or places mentioned, just my own Tropezian recommendations!
Frederique
Touristic guide in Saint Tropez
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