St. Tropez: From Sleepy Port to Jet-Set Playground
There was a time when St. Tropez was merely a sleepy Mediterranean village—its pastel facades worn by salt and sun, fishing boats gently bobbing in the harbor, and the scent of jasmine mingling with sea spray. But then came a film, a muse, and a moment that would change everything.
A Starlet and a Seaside Village
In 1956, director Roger Vadim captured lightning in a bottle with And God Created Woman. Set in the hushed sun-drenched streets of St. Tropez, the film introduced Brigitte Bardot to the world—and the world to St. Tropez. Bardot wasn’t just the star; she became the spirit of the town. Her effortless glamour and barefoot elegance turned this hidden corner of the Riviera into the Mediterranean’s most desirable destination.
Bardot fell hard for the village and made it her summer home, luring artists, actors, and aristocrats in her wake. The likes of Alain Delon, Mick Jagger, and Princess Caroline followed, bringing a haze of champagne and camera flashes.
The Making of a Myth
As the 1960s unfurled, St. Tropez blossomed into an emblem of Riviera chic. Designer boutiques popped up along Rue Sibille. Les Caves du Roy, hidden beneath the Byblos Hotel, pulsed with disco lights and whispered secrets. Le Club 55—originally a humble canteen—became a sun-kissed sanctuary for the jet set, serving grilled sea bass under reed canopies.
Yet, for all the dazzle, St. Tropez remained anchored in authenticity. The village never shed its Provençal soul. Old fishermen still mended nets by the quay. Market stalls brimmed with lavender, olives, and sun-ripened tomatoes. And the rhythm of life—slow, sun-drenched, and savoury—endured.
Where Glamour Meets Tradition
Today, St. Tropez balances its dual identity like a master acrobat. Designer yachts moor in the port beside wooden fishing boats. Trendsetters sip rosé on Pampelonne Beach while locals play pétanque in the shade. At Sénéquier, the town's iconic café, the world drifts by in a sea of sunglasses and linen.
And yet, to understand St. Tropez, one must venture beyond the port. The old town—La Ponche—is a tapestry of cobbled alleys, pastel façades, and shaded squares where time appears to pause. It’s here that the soul of the village whispers, in weathered doorways and tucked-away bistros.
And then there is the sweet symbol of the town: the Tarte Tropézienne. Created by Polish pastry chef Alexandre Micka in the 1950s and named by Bardot herself, this airy brioche filled with velvety cream is more than a dessert—it's a bite of golden nostalgia. The original spot La Tarte Tropezienne is still there on Place de la Mairie, just steps from the port. Locals and visitors alike line up for a slice, served just as it was decades ago—light, fragrant, and dusted with powdered sugar. Whether enjoyed at a café table or taken to-go for a seaside picnic, it remains a simple pleasure that captures the essence of Saint-Tropez: timeless, indulgent, and effortlessly charming.
St. Tropez Lives On
The allure of St. Tropez isn’t just in its celebrity or its style. It’s in the feeling it evokes: of barefoot afternoons, of light playing on seafoam, of stories that begin with a glass of pastis at golden hour.
To truly know St. Tropez is to embrace its contrasts. Glitz and grace. History and hedonism. A village caught in the glow of eternal summer.
Featured Spots for the In-the-Know Traveller:
Le Club 55: At Club 55, the Riviera sun once cast golden halos over Brigitte Bardot and Alain Delon, as they dined barefoot beside yacht-hopping jet-setters—transforming a humble beach shack into the epicentre of effortless Mediterranean glamour.
Nikki Beach: Glamour by the sea with champagne in the air.
La Ponche: A time capsule of Provençal charm, serving slow-cooked traditions since 1935.
Sénéquier: The portside café that has seen it all, and remains deliciously unbothered.
Gigi Ramatuelle: A whimsical hideaway with Italian flair, where Tuscan cuisine meets coastal elegance.
Byblos: More than a hotel—an institution of style and legend, where art, luxury, and nightlife converge. Les Caves du Roy club beneath the hotel is a temple of Riviera nightlife since 1967.
And don’t forget a slice of Tarte Tropézienne. It’s not just a pastry. It’s a postcard from a sunlit past.
Discover our curated guide to the Côte d'Azur for more stories, local spots, and Mediterranean moments worth planning your next escape around.
