| The city of St Tropez lies in the southeastern corner | | | | banana boat rides. |
| of France on the Côte d'Azur, or as it is | | | | At night, the relaxed, traditional bars on the |
| popularly known, the French Riviera. Since the 1950s, | | | | waterfront around the Old Port are a popular site, as |
| St Tropez has cultivated an international reputation as | | | | are the movie theatres. By day, the Musee de |
| a jet set playground, drawing movie stars, models, | | | | l'Annonciade is home to an impressive collection of |
| and millionaires from around the world. The glamour, | | | | impressionist paintings, while walkers can take to the |
| however, seems at odds with the story of the | | | | path along the city's south coast, the Sentier Litoral, |
| beheaded Saint Torpes, whose corpse was placed in | | | | which gives access to contemplative, quiet coves. |
| a boat with a rooster and a dog, which then, | | | | Predictably, St Tropez offers a wealth of shopping |
| theoretically, landed on the beach that now bears his | | | | experiences from simple holiday souvenirs to designer |
| name. | | | | wares in fashion boutiques. On Tuesday and Saturday |
| Nothing so unsavoury docks at St Tropez in modern | | | | mornings the Place des Lices is home to a colourful |
| times, however. The harbour is home to many of the | | | | market. |
| world's super yachts, bringing a wealthy, transient | | | | For the night life, turn to the waterfront around Quai |
| citizenry to the streets of what was once a sleepy, | | | | Jean Jaures. This is a place to see and be seen in |
| fishing village. St Tropez and the region as a whole | | | | glitzy, throbbing bars where the revelry overflows |
| were transformed in the 1950s when, in the | | | | into the streets. If your desire is for an evening of |
| aftermath of Brigitte Bardot's sensual success in the | | | | luxurious entertainment with no thought to the price |
| 1956 production of 'And God Created Woman,' St | | | | tag, visit Les Caves du Roy in the Hotel Byblos on |
| Tropez gained an almost overnight reputation in | | | | Avenue Paul Signac. (The hotel is also home to one |
| Europe and around the world. | | | | of the premier St Tropez destination dining spots, |
| The ideal months to visit this international resort lying | | | | the Spoon Byblos.) |
| between Marseille and Toulon to the west and Nice | | | | Most restaurants in the city feature outdoor terraces |
| to the east, are June to September. (Nice provides | | | | for patrons to enjoy the air. It is never difficult to |
| easy access to St Tropez as it has the largest | | | | spend large sums of money in a resort, but the |
| airport in the Côte d'Azur.) During the dry | | | | restaurants around the Old Port offer set menus to |
| months of summer the nights are mild and pleasant, | | | | aid in cost control. Expect to get around St Tropez |
| with days averaging 25°C (77°F). | | | | on foot, with taxis available. The SNCF trains and the |
| Plage de Tahiti, one of the most popular St Tropez | | | | buses are an option for longer excursions. |
| beaches, lies 4.5km outside town and draws a | | | | For the past five decades, St Tropez has been one |
| wide-ranging crowd running the gamut from the | | | | of the crown jewels of the French Riviera. While |
| wealthy to families on holiday. (Clothes are considered | | | | reknowned as a spot for the wealthy and famous, it |
| optional on the beaches to the west of the the city.) | | | | is not a resort that excludes families (although small |
| Visitors will find plentiful bars and cafes, and the | | | | children won't enjoy it as much as teens.) What was |
| sandy beach offers access to all manner of | | | | once a simple fishing village is now a world-class city |
| watersports including waterskiing, wakeboarding, and | | | | and a must-see destination on the French Riviera. |