St Tropez - Coast of the Famous

From Fishing Village to Jet-Set Bay

Jun 20, 2008 Rachel L. Webb

It's said that anything goes in St Tropez and in the 1930s it did! Going topless began on the beaches there when the new stars of film flaunted their wares.

St Tropez was a fairly small and not particularly accessible fishing village until the late 19th century when artists and writers began to congregate, it then, soon became the "in" place to see and be seen in.

After the Second World War French holidaymakers and day trippers flocked to its beaches but it was Brigitte Bardot that brought international fame to this spot of coastline with the Roger Vadim film “And God Created Woman”.

Now every summer the picturesque port of St Tropez oozes with the yachts of the rich and famous. Once it was for the beauty of the town and coast that people flocked here for, nowadays it’s beautiful people they want to see!

The town itself is charming and although the shops are filled with luxurious ítems undreamt of in its medieval day, some of its allure still shines through.

If you like to stroll around the shops take a wander around the typical Provencal market which is held every Tuesday and Saturday in the Place des Lices.

St Tropez maybe a destination in itself but many delightful villages and small towns are close-by such as Cannes, Grasse, fmaous for its perfume and Gassin which has been voted as one of the most beautiful villages in France. But of course the beautiful beaches along the Bay de Pampelonne are the real attraction.

There is a huge variety of golden sands, busy ones for the chic jet-setters or more tranquil ones for a chill-out moment.

Although most visitors to St Tropez don’t come to hide away on a secluded beach but to see, be seen and celebrity-watch. The best time of year for this is of course the summer, but due to the nature of its location a lot of your summer holiday time could be spent in traffic jams.

An ideal time to stay and enjoy the beauty of the place rather than the people is in May, June or September.

Where to Stay

Pavillon de Pampelonne is a delightful small hotel, luxuriously positioned in a private tree-lined park on the edge of the azure Mediterranean Sea. It has 11 rooms, private pool and an honesty bar. It is home to the English hosts who will happily provide an airport or train pick-service.

Villa Jirikimpti a 4-bedroom self-catering villa in 1.25 acres of garden complete with orchard, olive grove and boules pitch, complete with security gates and only 800 metres from the sea.

The nearest airport to the beaches of Pampelonne is Toulon 35 minutes away.

Pavillon de Pampelonne and Villa Jirikimpti are from the collection of French properties from French Connections.

The copyright of the article St Tropez - Coast of the Famous in S Europe Travel is owned by Rachel L. Webb. Permission to republish St Tropez - Coast of the Famous in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

St Tropez