About 70 miles from Nice, St Tropez has an idyllic setting on the French Riviera, with sparkling azure waters on one side and rolling hills peppered with pretty medieval villages on the other.
Originally popular with the bohemian artistic set, this charming coastal town became a playground for the wealthy and famous in the ’50s, when Brigitte Bardot came to film “And God Created Woman” on its sun-kissed beaches. Nowadays, socialites and well-heeled fashionistas flock to the sunny seaside town, drawn to its Michelin-starred restaurants, exclusive beach clubs and champagne-fuelled yacht parties. Meanwhile, Hollywood celebrities looking for the ultimate Provençal hideaway fill the luxury villas of St Tropez.
However, St Tropez has far more to offer than just extravagant A-listers. For example, if historic charms are what you’re after, the town delivers in spades, with delightful open-air markets and an alluring old town of pastel-coloured façades and shady squares. On the narrow streets of historic fishing village La Ponche, Mediterranean glamour meets Provençal chic as timeless boulangeries and patisseries compete for pavement space with hip cafes and luxurious boutiques. In the characterful Vieux Port nearby, multi-million dollar yachts wait to be admired and local artists sell eye-catching illustrations of the harbour. At the heart of the village lies the famous Place des Lices, an atmospheric tree-lined square which hosts one of the best Provençal markets on the French Riviera.
With its heady mix of glitz and glamour and historic charm, St Tropez is the ideal spot to soak up the sun, wander the ancient streets, indulge in the delicious cuisine and relax on one of it’s beautiful sandy beaches.
