Things to do in  St-Tropez

Crowning the hillside above St-Tropez is the town’s citadel, a striking hexagonal tower as popular for its views as its history. Visitors today can admire the citadel’s well-preserved cannons and bastions that date back to the early 17th century and learn about St-Tropez’s seafaring history at the on-site maritime history museum.

Just along the coast from St. Tropez, Port Grimaud is a chic village purpose-built in the 1960s by architect François Spoerry. The town was designed to resemble a mini Venice with its network of canals and brightly painted buildings, and today it is a popular destination for visitors to the Côte d’Azur.

Our Lady of the Assumption Church in St-Tropez might not be as grand as its name suggests, but this charming little church by the sea is worth a look. Instantly recognizable by its pink-and-yellow bell tower that graces many St-Tropez postcards, the 18th-century church is a great find for those wanting a peaceful moment or a prayer while exploring the town.

For avant-garde art in a historic waterfront setting, the Annonciade Museum in St-Tropez is the place to be. This small chapel-turned-gallery boasts an impressive collection of impressionist and expressionist paintings and sculptures, all linked to St-Tropez and its Cote d’Azur surrounds. Works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Paul Signac, and Georges Seurat are among the star finds.

The St-Tropez Market at Place des Lices is a must for visitors wanting to see a slice of the real St-Tropez, where locals and tourists shop. Sat a couple of blocks from the Old Port, this central open-air market buzzes twice weekly, flaunting a vast range of goods. Provencal food produce, fashion ware to complete any French Riviera wardrobe, and general bric-a-brac are among the finds.

Even if you’re not familiar with Pampelonne Beach, you may well know the names of the upmarket beach clubs that line the shore: Club 55, Nikki Beach, La Voile Rouge—ring any bells? Here, rich and famous don their finery (or take it off—topless sunbathing “originated” here) and enjoy languid days in the Tropezienne sun.

One of the Saint-Tropez region’s most tucked-away corners, Cap Taillat is a sandy promontory that extends into the Mediterranean, a short trip south of the town center. Boasting unspoiled beaches and scenic hiking trails, it’s a protected wildlife area that’s reachable by foot or by boat, but is largely inaccessible to vehicles.

The most impressively preserved of Provence’s Cistercian abbeys, the Abbey of Thoronet was built between 1160 and 1230. Renowned for its sparse yet precise architecture and remarkable acoustics and now protected as a National Monument, the abbey offers fascinating insight into life under the Cistercian order of Saint Bernard.