Saint-Tropez

Saint-Tropez was a quiet fishing village until Brigitte Bardot arrived in 1956 to film 'And God Created Woman,' and nothing was ever the same. Today, it is the most glamorous summer destination in Europe, with mega-yachts filling the port, legendary beach clubs lining the Pampelonne beach, and an atmosphere of hedonistic joie de vivre that peaks in July and August. But beneath the celebrity veneer, Saint-Tropez retains an authentic Provencal soul. The old town, with its pastel-colored houses, its church bell tower, and the Place des Lices where locals play petanque beneath plane trees on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, feels remarkably unchanged. The Musee de l'Annonciade, housed in a former chapel on the port, holds an exceptional collection of Post-Impressionist and Fauvist paintings by Signac, Matisse, Bonnard, and others who were drawn to the extraordinary light. The Citadel, perched above the town, offers sweeping views over the red-roofed old town, the sapphire bay, and the Massif des Maures mountains. Pampelonne Beach, five kilometers of pristine sand just south of the town, is home to the legendary beach clubs: Club 55 (the original, opened in 1955 for the Bardot film crew), Nikki Beach (the party destination), and La Reserve a la Plage (for those who prefer understated elegance). Dining in Saint-Tropez matches the setting: La Vague d'Or at Residence de la Pinede holds three Michelin stars, while Senequier on the port — famous for its red tables and nougat — has been the place to see and be seen since 1887. The surrounding Var countryside produces excellent Cotes de Provence rose — Chateau Minuty, Domaine de la Croix, and Chateau des Marres all offer estate visits. Getting to Saint-Tropez is part of the experience: the coastal road is notoriously congested in summer, making a private yacht transfer from Nice or Cannes not just more elegant but significantly faster.

Highlights