Saint-Tropez — From Fishing Village to Myth

It all began in 1956 when Roger Vadim shot "And God Created Woman" here with Brigitte Bardot. Overnight, the sleepy fishing village became the epitome of the jet set. Today, mega yachts lie in the harbor, Lamborghinis park on the quay, and the beach clubs at Plage de Pampelonne charge €60 for a sunbed. And yet: If you walk through the old town at 7 a.m., when fishermen mend their nets and bakers pull croissants from the oven, you understand why Bardot, Picasso, and the Impressionists fell in love with this place.

The Harbor — Stage of Vanities

The Vieux Port is Saint-Tropez's most famous backdrop: colorful houses in Provençal style, fishing boats next to 50-meter yachts, cafés with terraces for seeing and being seen. The Café Sénéquier (since 1887, recognizable by the red chairs) is the institution at the harbor — an espresso costs €4, but the view of the yachts and the hustle and bustle is priceless. In the morning, the harbor is most authentic when the fish market (Place aux Herbes) offers fresh catch.

The Old Town

The old town behind the harbor is a maze of alleys with ocher and pastel facades, bougainvillea, small squares, and boutiques. The Place des Lices is the heart: a shady square under plane trees where locals play pétanque (yes, really — even between the Ferraris). On Tuesdays and Saturdays, one of the most beautiful weekly markets in Provence takes place here: lavender honey, olive oil, tapenade, socca, Provençal fabrics.

Musée de l'Annonciade

In the former chapel at the harbor, the Musée de l'Annonciade showcases a surprisingly high-caliber collection of Post-Impressionists and Fauvists who discovered Saint-Tropez as a painting location: Signac, Matisse, Bonnard, Vuillard, Derain. The light these painters sought falls through the high windows onto the paintings — you see the same coast in the picture and in the window. Admission: €8.

Plage de Pampelonne

The legendary Plage de Pampelonne stretches over five kilometers south of Saint-Tropez: fine white sand, turquoise water, and the world's most famous beach clubs. Club 55 (since 1955, when the Bardot crew ordered lunch here), Nikki Beach (champagne and DJs), and Tahiti (the oldest beach club) cost €40–80 for a sunbed, but there are also public sections that are free and just as beautiful.