Do you, St Tropez?
Do you, do you, do you… Saint-Tropez? Well, yes, but only on the off-season. My last visit was on a Monday in early June and it was magnificent. The temperatures were already plenty warm to swim in the nearby Pampelonne or Tahiti beaches, those preferred by Brigitte Bardot and the jetset, which were heavenly that afternoon with their soft rolling waves, golden sands and crystal clear waters. Technically, both beaches are located in the village of Ramatuelle, just a short drive south from Saint-Tropez.
The famed beach clubs like Verde Beach, Gigi, Loulou, Casa Amor, and Club 55, were just setting up for the season so the tourists had not yet arrived, so we had the whole day to explore the city with its empty streets and open sea. We walked, dined in and shopped the charming streets of Saint-Tropez’s old town starting near Place des Lices, rambling along the pastel streets until we arrived to the old port. A stop at the iconic Senéquier for a cafe is a must to recharge, just for the vibes alone. You can just feel this place oozing with history from its leather tanned locals and pooches lounging in the sun, to its warn-in wooden bar tucked in the back holding on to its many late-night secrets.
After a stop at the charming and luxury boutiques in town, be sure to visit, The Annonciade Museum featuring some of the greatest French modern art masterminds such as: Paul Signac, Henri Matisse and André Derain with an impressive art collection inspired by local resident, Signac.
Signac moved to Saint-Tropez in 1890 to 1950 inspiring the work of Klee, Matisse, Serat, Braque, Bonnard and Gauguin, often depicting the village of Saint-Tropez in Signac’s studio where the artist lived and worked. Not only was Signac a determined artist who was pivotal in evolving the Neo-Impressionist style from pointillism, which laid the foundation for the first modern art movement of the twentieth century, called Fauvism, but he was also an avid sailor. After buying his villa called La Hune in Saint-Tropez, Signac transformed a part of it into his studio. Soon after settling in together with his wife and mother, Signac invited other painters to join him. Among these were Henri Matisse, Maximilien Luce, Théo van Rysselberghe, George Braque, Henri-Edmond Cross and André Derain.
The next stop is a visit to the Citadel with its magnificent views over the bay and city, complete with its own parading peacocks. We walked up for the views and enjoyed a visit at the city’s Maritime museum, a treasure-trove of history especially for marine-buffs and provides a fascinating history to the lay of the land for those new to town.
