Saint-Tropez is famous for glamour: yachts in the old port, celebrities, beach clubs on Pampelonne and a jet-set nightlife. But its fame rests on more than that. It is also known for the painters who discovered it in the 1890s, the 1956 film that made Brigitte Bardot and the town world-famous, its pastel harbor, the tarte tropézienne, its centuries-old Bravades festival and its classic yacht regatta.

Here is what Saint-Tropez is best known for, from its history and art to its food, beaches and traditions.

A Fishing Village Turned Riviera Icon

For centuries Saint-Tropez was a small fishing and seafaring town, cut off by land and best reached by sea. Its sailors traded across the Mediterranean and later sailed much farther on merchant ships. The town even had a long tradition of self-defense, which lives on in its festivals. Read our history of Saint-Tropez for the full story.

Its transformation began in 1892, when the Neo-Impressionist painter Paul Signac sailed in and settled here. Matisse, Marquet, Bonnard and others followed. Writers, fashion designers and actors came next, and after the Second World War the town became a fashionable summer escape.

Brigitte Bardot and the Movies

The real turning point came with And God Created Woman (Et Dieu… créa la femme), Roger Vadim’s 1956 film starring Brigitte Bardot. It turned both Bardot and Saint-Tropez into international symbols of sun, freedom and glamour. Bardot later made the area her home, at her villa La Madrague on the bay, and her name is still closely tied to the town.

Saint-Tropez is also famous in France for the Gendarme comedies starring Louis de Funès, beginning with Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez in 1964. The former gendarmerie building now houses the Gendarmerie and Cinema Museum, which covers both the films shot here and the history of the local police.

The Vieux Port

The old port is the town’s postcard image: small wooden fishing boats and huge yachts moored in front of pastel houses, with painters selling their work on the quay. Café Sénéquier, with its bright red awnings and chairs, has been the classic place to watch the scene for generations. A bronze statue of the Bailli de Suffren, the 18th-century admiral born nearby, looks out over the harbor. Walk out along the Môle Jean Réveille, the harbor wall, for the view that inspired so many painters.

Just behind the port, Place aux Herbes hosts a small morning market, next to the covered fish market where local catches are sold.

La Ponche and the Old Town

La Ponche, the old fishermen’s quarter between the port and the citadel, is the most charming part of town, with narrow lanes, a tiny beach and houses built right up to the water. Nearby, the Église Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption, built in the late 18th century, has an Italian baroque look and a yellow and terracotta bell tower visible across the bay. Inside are carved woodwork and the bust of Saint Torpes, the town’s patron saint.

Close to the town hall, the Château Suffren is one of the oldest buildings in Saint-Tropez. Its tower dates back to the late 10th century, when the counts of Provence fortified the coast, and the building is now used for exhibitions.

Art: The Musée de l’Annonciade

The Musée de l’Annonciade, in a chapel built in the early 16th century for the White Penitents brotherhood, is one of the finest small art museums in France. Its collection focuses on the period from about 1890 to 1950 and reflects the town’s artistic past, with Pointillist works by Signac, Fauvist paintings by Matisse, Derain and Vlaminck, and works by Bonnard, Vuillard, Marquet and Dufy. Many show Saint-Tropez and its port.

The Citadel

The citadel, built in the early 17th century, overlooks the town from its hill. Its hexagonal keep now houses the Maritime History Museum, which tells the story of the town’s sailors, from coastal fishing to merchant voyages across the world’s oceans, and of local figures such as the Bailli de Suffren. The ramparts offer some of the best views of the gulf.

Beaches and Beach Clubs

Saint-Tropez’s most famous beach, Pampelonne, actually lies in neighboring Ramatuelle. Its long sandy shore is lined with legendary beach clubs and restaurants, but there are also free public sections. Closer to town, there is something for every taste:

• Plage de la Bouillabaisse: a public beach west of the port, with facilities and a supervised swimming area in summer.
• Les Canebiers and Les Salins: larger sandy beaches east of town, with pines and calm water, good for families.
• La Ponche and La Fontanette: small beaches in the old town.
• Les Graniers and La Moutte: more natural beaches reached on foot or by the coastal path.

See our guide to the best beaches in Saint-Tropez for more detail.

Food: The Tarte Tropézienne and Rosé

Saint-Tropez gave its name to the tarte tropézienne, a soft brioche filled with a light cream and topped with pearl sugar. It was created in the 1950s by a local pastry maker and, according to the story, named at Brigitte Bardot’s suggestion. The surrounding peninsula is also covered with vineyards producing Côtes de Provence wines, above all rosé, which is the drink of choice on every terrace in summer.

Traditions and Events

• Les Bravades: every May, the town honors Saint Torpes with processions, costumes and musket salutes, a tradition going back several centuries.
• Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez: at the end of September and beginning of October, classic and modern yachts race in the bay. The event grew out of La Nioulargue regatta, which began in 1981.
• Markets: the Tuesday and Saturday morning market on Place des Lices, under the plane trees, is one of the best-known in Provence.
• Pétanque: on Place des Lices, locals play pétanque in the gravel all year round.

Fashion, Shopping and Nightlife

The town is also known for designer boutiques, handmade leather Tropézienne sandals and its summer nightlife, with clubs such as Les Caves du Roy at the Hôtel Byblos. These are part of the glamour, but also why the town has a reputation for being pricey; see whether Saint-Tropez is expensive for ways to manage costs.

Other Sights

Families will enjoy the Maison des Papillons, a small museum with a large collection of butterflies, including rare and extinct species. The coastal path (Sentier du Littoral) leads to quiet coves, and the hilltop villages of Ramatuelle and Gassin are close by. For a complete list, see our guide to things to do in Saint-Tropez, or read whether Saint-Tropez is worth visiting.

Summary

Saint-Tropez is famous for its glamorous image, but also for its painters, its role in film, its picturesque old port and La Ponche, the Musée de l’Annonciade, the citadel, Pampelonne beach, the tarte tropézienne, rosé wine, Les Bravades and the Voiles de Saint-Tropez regatta. Behind the yachts, it remains a small Provençal town with a strong identity and a long history.