This trading and fishing port enjoyed great prosperity in the 17th and 18th centuries, but nothing predisposed it to its vocation as the capital of the jet set. Brigitte Bardot's silhouette in Roger Vadim's Et Dieu créa la femme (1956), and the famous gendarmes trained by Louis de Funès have contributed greatly to making it known, under the paternal eye of the Bailli de Suffren, a local child who is a statuette in the port. His statue was cast in 1866 with bronze from the cannons taken by Napoleon III from the Austrians. The city's coat of arms represents a body lying in a boat: that of Saint Torpès (now Saint-Tropez), born Caius Silvius Torpétius in Pisa. A dignitary of the Roman armies, he was chosen by the emperor Nero as steward of his palace. Guardian of Saint Paul, he converted to Catholicism. Nero had him beheaded in Pisa. His body was placed in a boat between a dog and a rooster, and drifted to the present site of the port. Several times in the Middle Ages, the city was destroyed by the Saracens, once in 739, a second time in 889. In the 10th century, the Count of Provence Guillaume I drove out the Saracens, fortified the town and built the fortified castle. In 1056, Saint-Tropez was ceded to the monks of Saint-Victor, who fertilized the region. In the 14th century, the town was ravaged by new wars between the Provençal princes. In 1441, the governor of Provence entrusted the reconstruction of the town to a Genoese architect, Raphaël Pornazio de Garezzio. Saint-Tropez became an autonomous republic and a port renowned for the quality of its sailors. The whole town was fortified. The Ponche gate, the Jarlier tower, the old tower and the Portalet tower date from this period. The citadel was built by order of Henri IV. In the town, there are door and window frames made of serpentine, a greenish rock. It comes from quarries in the Massif des Maures. Until the 19th century, Saint-Tropez lives mainly from maritime trade. In 1894, Paul Signac arrived in Saint-Tropez and settled in a fisherman's hut on the Graniers beach. In his wake, Matisse, Derain, Renan, Liszt or Colette will contribute to make this small village known throughout the world. But it is especially in the 1950s that its fame will literally explode and becomes a resort for the European and American jet set. Saint-Tropez attracts tourists in search of celebrities, or who wish to discover one of the most glamorous cities on the coast

What to visit Saint Tropez?

When to go to Saint Tropez?

When to go to Saint-Tropez? Unless you are desperate to get close to the European and American stars, the two best periods to discover Saint-Tropez are undoubtedly spring and fall, which corresponds to the low season. Hotel and restaurant rates are relatively lower than in summer during this period and the beaches are less crowded. As for the climate, it is ideal, warm but not too hot, and you can often swim from spring and sometimes until the end of November in autumn. The high tourist season is of course the summer, in July and August, the roads are crowded and the rates, rather high in Saint-Tropez all year round, become really prohibitive. Remember to book well in advance: there are many French and foreign tourists!

Weather at the moment

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Weather all year round

The climate in Saint-Tropez is Mediterranean. Winters are mild and sunny with temperatures averaging 15°C and moderate rainfall. In summer, temperatures are very high (sometimes scorching) and can reach 35°C. In spring, nature is in bloom and the weather is pleasant. In autumn, the weather is mild and the landscape is colorful. These low season periods are therefore very popular.

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Pictures and images Saint Tropez

Le port de Saint-Tropez Lawrence BANAHAN - Author's Image
Voilier au large de Saint-Tropez MATTHIAS VEIT - FOTOLIA
Soupe au pistou. Schnapps2012 - Shutterstock.com
Sur les hauteurs de Saint-Tropez Trent - Fotolia

Discover Saint Tropez

When to travel?

When to go to Saint-Tropez? Unless you are desperate to get close to the European and American stars, the two best pe...
Read more about it

Weather forecast

The climate in Saint-Tropez is Mediterranean. Winters are mild and sunny with temperatures averaging 15°C and modera...
Read more about it

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