Page 520 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

EXPERIENCE Provence and the Côte d’Azur 25 In World War II the beaches

St-Tropez
heavy bombing. Then, during
Did You Know?
the 1950s, young Parisians
! G6 ⌂ Var @ n Quai Jean
began to arrive, and the
Jaurès; www.sainttropez
Bardot-Vadim film helped
sandals hand-made in
tourisme.com saw Allied landings and some Sandales tropéziennes,
to create the reputation of St-Tropez, are treated
The geography of St-Tropez modern St-Tropez as a play- to resist salt water.
kept it untouched by the ground for gilded youth. The
earliest development of the wild public behaviour and
Côte d’Azur. Tucked away at turbulent love affairs of Roger
the tip of a peninsula, it is the Vadim, Brigitte Bardot, Sacha
only north-facing town on the Distel and others left fiction St-Tropez is said to be named
coast and so did not appeal far behind. Mass tourism fol- for a Roman soldier martyred
to those seeking a warm and lowed, with visitors eager to as a Christian by the Emperor
sheltered winter resort. In spot celebrities. Nero. Each May a bravade in
1892 the painter Paul Signac Today, there are far more his honour takes place, with
was among the first outsiders luxury yachts than fishing an effigy of the saint carried
to respond to its unspoiled boats in St-Tropez harbour. Its through town ac companied
charm, encouraging friends, cafés are ideal for people- and by musket fire.
such as the painters Matisse yacht-watching. Another hub Nearby are two small towns.
and Bonnard, to join him. In is place des Lices, both for the Port-Grimaud was only built in
the 1920s the Parisian writer Harley-Davidson set and the 1966, but the traditional archi-
Colette also made her home morning market. The Musée tecture makes it seem older.
here. St-Tropez also began to de l’Histoire Maritime, in the Most of its “streets” are canals.
attract star-spotters, hoping tower of the citadel, with great Up in the hills, Ramatuelle has
for a glimpse of such cele- views, recounts the village’s been restored by the largely
brities as the then Prince impressive seafaring past. celebrity population.
of Wales. There’s also the Musée de
l’Annonciade with its out- Musée de
standing collection of works l’Histoire Maritime
INSIDER TIP by Signac, Derain, Rouault, " ⌂ Citadelle de Saint Tropez
L’Aiguille Bonnard and others. § 04 94 97 59 43 # 10am–
Head for lovely Pointe The best beaches are out 5:30pm daily (to 6:30pm
de l’Aiguille, to the west of town, including the golden Apr–Sep) ¢ 1 Jan, 1 & 17
of Théoule-sur-Mer, to curve of Pampelonne, with its May, 11 Nov, 25 Dec
escape the crowds and beach clubs and restaurants –
discover gorgeous little the place to see and be seen. Musée de l’Annonciade
bays and pine-scented St-Tropez has no train sta- "= ⌂ 2 rue l’Annociade, pl
woodland walks on the tion, so driving and parking can Grammont § 04 94 17 84 10
lower slopes of the be a nightmare in summer. It # 10am–6pm Tue–Sun
Massif de l’Esterel. is best to get the boat from ¢ Mon, 1 Jan, Ascen sion,
St Raphaël or St Maxime. 1 & 17 May, Nov, 25 Dec
520

520-521_EW_France.indd 520 30/01/2019 16:45

EW Must-see / Catalogue template v1.1 – 18th May 2018
Fonts: Aptifer Sans LT Pro, Posterama Text, Soho Gothic
Pro, Soho Pro, ITC Caslon 224