Saint-Tropez: From Fishing Village to Global Icon

No place better exemplifies the Côte d'Azur's transformation than Saint-Tropez. This small fishing village, accessible only by boat until 1964, became synonymous with glamour after Brigitte Bardot filmed "And God Created Woman" here in 1956. The transformation was swift and total—yet somehow, Saint-Tropez retains elements of its original charm.

The old port, despite the mega-yachts and celebrity-spotting, maintains its architectural integrity. Fishing boats still moor alongside floating palaces, their owners entitled to hereditary berths that no amount of money can buy. The morning fish market continues in Place aux Herbes, though the clientele now includes chefs from starred restaurants rather than housewives preparing family meals.

The beaches that made Saint-Tropez famous stretch along the Baie de Pampelonne, actually in the neighboring commune of Ramatuelle. Each beach club has its personality: Nikki Beach for conspicuous consumption, Club 55 for old-school elegance, Tahiti Plage for families. Yet public beaches remain accessible between the private concessions, a democratic right fiercely defended by French law.

The backcountry of Saint-Tropez, the Massif des Maures, provides escape from coastal frenzy. Medieval villages like Gassin and Ramatuelle maintain Provençal authenticity, their narrow streets and stone houses a reminder of what the coast was before fame arrived. Vineyards produce respectable rosés, hiking trails traverse cork oak forests, and the landscape reveals why artists and writers fell in love with this region before the celebrities arrived.