Beyond its famous name, Saint-Tropez can be explored through its old streets, around the harbour and from the citadel. Painters and cinema have added their stories to the history of this town on the gulf.
The harbour and old town
Saint-Tropez is a fishing port and seaside resort on the Côte d'Azur, located on the gulf that bears its name. This pretty, colourful Provençal town on the coast of the Massif des Maures is busy all year round. Saint-Tropez is a rallying point for artists, international jet set, and tourists from around the world.
The privileged location of Saint-Tropez was noticed since antiquity, it was then Heraclea-Caccaliera a trading post of the Greeks of Marseille, then a Roman town. The name of Saint-Tropez comes from the Christian martyr called Torpes, intendant in the palace of the Emperor Nero, whose decapitated body was placed on a boat and ran aground here. The fall of the Roman Empire led to centuries of unrest and piracy. The mountainous region around Saint-Tropez was occupied by the Moors in 890, they were finally expelled in 976.
The citadel and maritime history
The citadel overlooks the town and gulf. Construction of its keep began in 1602 under royal engineer Raymond de Bonnefons. The surrounding enclosure and defensive works were added later. The keep now houses the Saint-Tropez Museum of Maritime History.
In the first half of the 20th century Saint-Tropez was a resort frequented by painters. Among them Signac moved into the area and painted some of his most beautiful paintings . The Musée de l’Annonciade exhibits remarkable paintings of the biggest names from the early 20th century , Braque, Picabia, Matisse, Bonnard, Seurat, Utrillo. During the 2nd World War, Saint-Tropez was liberated by the Allies during the landings in Provence on 15 August 1944. The port was damaged by bombing.
Saint-Tropez became "St. Trop " in the 50s, when Brigitte Bardot bought her famous property "La Madrague". Movie stars and singers frequented the place that became the most festive of the Côte d'Azur and remains so today. Many films were shot in Saint-Tropez, including the famous "And God Created Woman" by Roger Vadim with Brigitte Bardot, and the popular series "Cops of Saint-Tropez" with Louis de Funès.
Today boats of millionaires line up along the dock and colored houses, Saint-Tropez is a name that inspires dreams around the world.
Roads into Saint-Tropez can be very busy in high season. Boat services offer another way to reach the harbour; departure points, timetables and operation vary with the season and weather. Check with operators before travelling.
Planning your visit
Plan the harbour walk and climb to the citadel as separate parts of your visit. The maritime history and Annonciade museums have their own hours and tickets. During summer and sailing events, allow extra time for travel and parking.
Accommodation in Saint-Tropez and nearby:
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Sights and activities
- The Marina - at the foot of the old town, it houses some of the most beautiful boats in the world.
- Old Town
- The Citadel
- The Sainte-Anne chapel, the Convent chapel, the Saint-Eloi chapel
- The Byblos - a palace built in the 1960s.
- Musée de l'Annonciade: works by painters who have lived in Saint-Tropez, with works by Paul Signac, Georges Seurat, Pierre Bonnard, Raoul Dufy, Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, André Derain, Kees van Dongen, Maurice de Vlaminck, Henri Manguin, Suzanne Valadon, André Lhote, and many others...
- Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez - international nautical event, regattas of old and modern sailing boats.
- Bravade from 16 to 18 May and Bravade on 15 June: major patron saint's festivals that perpetuate the memory of the city's defenders with a procession around the bust of Saint-Tropez.
Coming to Saint-Tropez:
GPS coordinates N 43°16'12'' - E 6°38'22''
The town of Saint-Tropez is located in the Var department on the Côte d'Azur.
Location : altitude 7 meters, 5000 inhabitants, 16 km from Sainte Maxime, 38 km from Fréjus, 51 km from Hyères, 124 km from Cannes
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