Saint-Tropez, France

The city of Saint-Tropez is located in southeastern France on the Mediterranean coast, 40 km from Cannes and 60 km from Toulon. The first settlement on the site of present-day Saint-Tropez was founded in the 2nd century BC. Until World War I, Saint-Tropez was France's main port on the Mediterranean. Today, the town is a world-famous seaside resort on the French Riviera. Its population is about 6 thousand people.

The beautiful scenery and wonderful beaches attract many celebrities who even now buy villas and old houses in this charming town and spend much of their lives here. The French writer Guy de Maupassant (1850-1893) moved to Saint-Tropez in 1880 and this was the most fruitful period of his writing. The French painter Paul Signac (1863-1935) bought a house in Saint-Tropez in 1898 and his home became a haven for many artists and other creatives. In the 1930s, many artists arrived en masse in Saint-Tropez, such as the French writer, poet, artist, painter and screenwriter Jean Cocteau(1889-1963) and the infamous French writer Colette(1873-1954).

The six film comedies starring the famous Louis de Funès were filmed in Saint-Tropez. That is why the gendarmerie building, where some of the episodes were filmed, is a landmark in Saint-Tropez. In 1956, the film "And God Created Woman" starring Brigitte Bardot was made here, after which the town gained great popularity. The famous French artist still lives in her villa outside Saint-Tropez, having dedicated herself to animal protection.

Pamplonne is the most fashionable beach in Saint-Tropez, and the charm of this small yet so visited town is felt especially in summer. The market on Place de Lis is interesting in the morning, and in the evening the cafés around the harbour are a great attraction. It is obvious that the rich know how to live and have fun. Loud music is not heard here. The sea water is crystal clear, and the sunsets are wonderful, especially if watched from a yacht on a ride out to sea. A traditional international regatta is held in Saint Tropez every October.

In the old town, the Annunciation Chapel has been converted into an art museum, which houses an art collection that Georges Gramont gave to Saint-Tropez. There are also works here by Derain, Signac, Seurat, Dufa and Braque, most of whom were lovers of Saint-Tropez. An interesting landmark of the town is the Citadel, which guarded the town from raids.The hexagonal fortress has thick walls, and the three towers were used for observation. It now houses the Museum of Navigation-a branch of the museum at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris.

Saint-Tropez is a tale out of the Thousand and One Nights.