Saint-Tropez

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Saint-Tropez
Saint Tropez Eglise.jpg
Church of Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez is located in France
{{{alt}}}
Saint-Tropez
Administration
Country France
Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department Var
Arrondissement Draguignan
Canton Saint-Tropez
Mayor Jean-Pierre Tuveri
(2008–)
Statistics
Elevation 0–113 m (0–371 ft)
(avg. 15 m or 49 ft)
Land area1 15.18 km2 (5.86 sq mi)
Population2 5,690  (2006)
 - Density 375 /km2 (970 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 83119/ 83990
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Coordinates: 43°16′24″N 6°38′23″E / 43.2733°N 6.6396°E / 43.2733; 6.6396

Saint-Tropez (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ tʁoˈpe]; (Occitan: Sant Tropetz) is a commune, 104 km (65 mi) to the east of Marseille, in the Var department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. It is also the principal town in the canton of Saint-Tropez.

It is located on the French Riviera, and it is known today for its famous and extremely wealthy summertime guests. It has been dubbed the 'playground to jetsetters, fashion models, and millionaires', and it is most-enduringly known as the place where the iconic Brigitte Bardot was "discovered" and for its role in the liberation of southern France during World War II.

Saint-Tropez has had a varied history. It was a fifteenth-century military stronghold, an unassuming fishing village at the beginning of the twentieth century, and the first town on this coast to be liberated during World War II (as part of Operation Dragoon).

Wiecz port ST.jpg

After the war, it became an internationally-known seaside resort,renowned principally because of the influx of artists of the French New Wave in cinema and the Yé-yé movement in music. In latter years, it has been a resort for the European and American jet set and the inevitable hordes of tourists in search of a little Provençal authenticity and an occasional celebrity sighting.

The inhabitants of Saint-Tropez are called Tropéziens,[1] and the town is familiarly called "St-Trop".

Contents

[edit] History

The town’s name derives from that of an early, semi-legendary martyr named Saint Torpes. His legend states that he was beheaded at Pisa during the reign of Nero, and that his body was placed in a rotten boat with a rooster and a dog. The body landed at the present-day location of the town.[2][3][4]

Saint-Tropez and its surroundings were dominated by the nearby Saracen settlement of Fraxinet during the ninth and tenth centuries.[5]

The local nobleman had the privilege of raising a standing army, which drove away a fleet of Spanish galleons in 1637. Les Bravades des Espagnols is a local religious and military celebration commemorating this victory of the Tropezian militia over the Spanish.[6]

The area was not taxed by the French government during this time. However, this tax-free privilege was abrogated by King Louis XIV, who reasserted French control over the city.

The Japanese samurai, Hasekura Tsunenaga, and his retainers, en route to Rome, visited Saint-Tropez in September 1615, in what is believed to be the earliest instance of contact between the French and the Japanese.

The famous admiral, Pierre André de Suffren de Saint Tropez (1729–1788), was the third son of the marquis de Saint-Tropez.

In the 1920s Saint-Tropez attracted famous figures from the world of fashion, like Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli.

During World War II, on 15 August 1944, it was the site of a military landing called Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of southern France.

In the 1950s, partly thanks to Brigitte Bardot, Saint-Tropez became renowned internationally. It was the setting for such films as And God Created Woman.

Pl banqui in Saint Tropez with old gendarmerie station, which played in "Saint-Tropez"

. During the 1960s and the 1970s, the film series Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez with Louis de Funès further contributed to the town's reputation.

Pink Floyd wrote a song called "San Tropez" which is named after the town. St. Tropez is also cited in David Gates' 1978 hit, "Took The Last Train" and Aerosmith's "Permanent Vacation". Rappers including Diddy, Jay-Z and 50 Cent refer to the city in some of their songs as a favorite vacation destination, usually by yacht.

DSCF7741.ogg
Yachts and people in famous places of Saint-Tropez

.

[edit] Port

The port was widely used during the 18th century; in 1789, the port was visited by 80 ships. Saint-Tropez's shipyards built tartanes and three-masted ships that carried 1000 to 12200 barrels. The town was the site of various associated trades, including fishing, cork, wine, wood. The town had a school of hydrography. In 1860 the floret of the merchant marine, named "The Queen of the Angels" (a three-masted ship of 740 barrels), visited this port.

Its role as a commercial port declined, and it is now primarily a tourist spot besides being a base for many well known sailing regattas. Here you also find a fast boat transportation with Les Bateaux Verts to Sainte-Maxime on the other side of the bay and to Port Grimaud, Marines de Cogolin, Les Issambres and St-Aygulf.

DSCF7743.ogg
Today main role of port is being tourist attraction

.

[edit] Economy

The main economic resource of Saint-Tropez is tourism.

Saint-Tropez is well known for the Hôtel Byblos (and Les Caves du Roy), a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, whose inauguration with Brigitte Bardot and Gunter Sachs in 1967 was an international event.

[edit] Art and Saint-Tropez

In history of modern art Saint-Tropez plays a major role.

Paul Signac, "Leaving the port of Saint-Tropez", 1901

Paul Signac discovers this light-filled place and inspires painters like Matisse, Bonnard or Marquet to come to Saint-Tropez. Saint-Tropez emerges the painting of Pointillism and Fauvism. Also for the next generation of painters Saint-Tropez rests an interesting attraction. Bernard Buffet, David Hockney, Massimo Campigli, Donald Sultan were also living and working in Saint-Tropez. Today Stefan Szczesny continues this tradition.

[edit] Events

Each year, at the end of September, a regatta is held in the bay of Saint-Tropez (Les Voiles de St. Tropez). This is a draw for many yachts, some up to 50 metres in length. Many tourists come to the location for this event or as a stop on their trip to Cannes, Marseille or Nice.

Tropezian Tahiti beach - la plage de tahiti in 2011

[edit] Beaches

Main article: Tropez beaches

Tropezien beaches are located along the coast in the Baie de Pampelonne, also known by the residents as Grania (pronounced granny-ay), which lies south of Saint-Tropez and east of Ramatuelle. Pampelonne offers a collection of beaches along its five-kilometre shore. Each beach is around thirty metres wide with its own beach hut and private or public tanning area.

Many of the beaches offer windsurfing, sailing and canoeing equipment for rent, while others offer motorized water sports, such as power boats, jet bikes and water skiing, scuba diving.

Some of the private beaches are naturist beaches.

[edit] Topless and nudity in Saint-Tropez

Following the sexual liberation of the late 1950s/60s the Tahiti beach emerged as a symbol of "clothing is optional".[7] The "clothing fights" between the gendarmerie and nudists become the main topic of famous French comedy film series Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez (The policeman from Saint-Tropez) with Louis de Funès. In reality the nudists won.[8]

Topless sunbathing is now usual way of sunbathing for both men and women, from Pampelonne beaches to yachts in centre of Saint-Tropez port.[9] The Tahiti beach is now "clothing-optional", but also nudists are going to private nudist lands, like that in Cap d'Agde.[10] "Modest" clothing is basically seen in Saint-Tropez, because of the end of "illegal taste-era" and stars (but not everyone[11]), that don't want their nude photos, made available next day on color magazines, by paparazzi.[12]

[edit] Transport

[edit] Getting to/from Saint Tropez

[edit] By sea

The most famous, and probably luxury way to get there is by chartering an private yacht. But the 800 berths port, with two marinas also can host other boats, including ferries. In the summer season there is a ferry service between St-Tropez and Nice, Sainte-Maxime, Cannes, Saint-Raphaël.[13]

[edit] By air

There is no airport located in Saint-Tropez. But there is a charter service to/from clubs, town, and Tropezian beaches by helicopters.[14]

The nearest airport is La Môle – Saint-Tropez Airport located in La Môle, 15 km (8 nm) southwest of Saint-Tropez.[15] Other main airports are:

[edit] By land

[edit] Rail

There is no rail station in Saint-Tropez. The nearest station is: 'Saint-Raphaël-Valescure' located in Saint-Raphaël (~39 KM from Saint-Tropez). Which offers also a boat service to Saint-Tropez.[17] Also there is a direct bus service to Saint Tropez, and the rail station is connected with bus station.[18][19]

[edit] Bus

There is a bus station in Saint Tropez called in the French: GARE ROUTIÈRE DE SAINT-TROPEZ located in Place Blanqui.[20]

It is operated by Var department transport division Varlib, which employs other transport companies for routes operating. Lines operated are for e.g.:

  • Var(83) - ST-TROPEZ - STE-MAXIME - ST-RAPHAEL [21]

Timetable for Saint-Tropez can be found there:Varlib horaires - commune Saint Tropez.

[edit] Taxi

There are also taxi services - even from Nice airport to Saint-Tropez. Of course due to long distances, and image of "wealthy Saint Tropez" this is not a cheap option.[22]

[edit] Own vehicle

In season there is a lot of traffic problems on roads to Saint-Tropez,[23] so the fastest way is to get by scooter or bike. There is no direct highway to the village. There are three main roads to Saint Tropez[24]:

  • Via the A8 (E80) with the sign "Draguignan, Le Muy-Golfe de Saint Tropez" -> RD 25 Sainte-Maxime, 19 km -> on the former RN 98 - 12 kilometres.
  • A57 with the sign "The Cannet des Maures" -> DR 558 , 24 km Grimaud until then by the RD 61 – 9 km through the famous intersection of La Foux
  • Near the sea the former RN 98 connects to Toulon-La Valette-du-Var, Saint-Raphaël, Cannes, Nice, Monaco, DR 93, called "Beach Road" with destinations to Pampelonne, Ramatuelle and La Croix -Valmer.

[edit] Transport in Saint-Tropez

Public transport in Saint-Tropez include mass transport service - mini buses, which remain as a shuttle service between town and Pampelonne beaches.[25]

Local public transport - buses, also photos of other transport vehicles:scooters, cars

Other ways of transport include: scooters, cars, bicycles and taxis.[26] Of course there are also helicopter services,[27] and boat trips.[28]

Because of traffic, and low distances, popular is also walking. From trips around this not so big town to walks to the Tropezian beaches.[29]

[edit] Demography

Histogram
(Population movements in Saint-Tropez).[30][31][32][33]

[edit] Climate


Climate data: Saint-Tropez
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Yearly
Mean maximum temperature (°C) 12,1 12,6 14,3 16,5 19,7 23,4 27 27,3 24,3 20,2 15,6 13 18,8
Mean minimum temperature (°C) 6,5 6,6 7,8 9,8 13 16,5 19,5 17,3 14,1 9,9 7,5 6 12,3
Mean temperature (°C) 9,3 9,6 11 13,2 16,3 20 23,3 23,4 20,8 17,1 12,8 10,3 15,6
Sunshine (hours) 147,8 148,9 203,2 252,1 234,9 280,6 310,3 355,5 319,5 247,0 201,5 145,5 2748,1
Mean monthly precipitation (mm) 82,4 82,8 64,7 53,2 40,1 25,7 15,5 27,8 57,0 104,9 85,7 72,2 711,8
Source : Climatologie mensuelle à la station de Cap Camarat.[34]

[edit] Culture, education and sport in Saint-Tropez

The town has health facilities, a cinema, a library, an outdoor center and a recreation center for youth.[35]

[edit] Education in Saint-Tropez

École maternelle(kindergarten - preschool)- l’Escouleto, écoles primaires(primary schools - primary education) : Louis Blanc and Les Lauriers, collège d'enseignement secondaire(secondary school, "high school" - secondary education) - Moulin Blanc.[36][37]

There are more than 1000 students distributed among kindergartens, primary schools and one "high school".[38] In 2011 there were 275 students in "high school", 51 people working there, from that 23 were teachers.[39]

[edit] Gallery

  • Saint-Tropez "le vieux port" (the old port)

  • The beaches of Pampelone and Bonne Terrase

  • Cannons of the Citadel

  • The Tour Jarlier in Saint Tropez

  • Brigitte Bardot at St. Tropez, 1963

  • The Saint-Tropez Marina

  • View of the port of Saint-Tropez

  • Sailboats at the Saint-Tropez marina

  • Cafes, and harbour in the Saint-Tropez Marina

[edit] Localization

This is graphic representation of Saint-Tropez administration location, on the Var department map and in wider perspective.

Saint-Tropez on the Var department map
Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in the Regions of France map
Mediterranean,
Golfe de Saint-Tropez,
au large Grimaud
Mediterranean
   Saint Tropez    
Gassin,
Forêt des Maures
Mediterranean,
Anse de Pampelonne
Saint-Tropez is located in France
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Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez (France)
Saint-Tropez is located in Europe
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Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez (Europe)
Saint-Tropez is located in World
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Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez (World)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ gentilé sur le site habitants.fr Consulté le 18 May 2008.
  2. ^ http://www.nrj-saint-tropez.com/saint-tropez/st-tropez-135.html
  3. ^ San Torpete (Torpes, Torpè)
  4. ^ History of Saint-Tropez
  5. ^ P. Sénac, "Contribution a l'étude des incursions Musulmanes dans l'Occident Chrétien: la localisation du Ğabal al-Qilāl" Revue de l'Occident Musulman et de la Méditerranée, 31 (1981) 7–14
  6. ^ Nicola Williams, Catherine Le Nevez, Provence and the Cote D'Azur (Lonely Planet, 2007), 343.
  7. ^ http://goeurope.about.com/od/nudebeaches/a/nude_beaches.htm
  8. ^ http://uk.askmen.com/top_10/travel_top_ten_100/100_travel_top_ten.html
  9. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jul/23/topless-sunbathing-france
  10. ^ http://www.wordcrafting.com/capdagde/excerpts.html
  11. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1204199/Kate-Moss-trademark-hotpants-family-holiday--minders-and-assistant-tow.html
  12. ^ http://www.villazzo.com/blog/2010/08/modesty-the-new-trend-on-the-sands-of-st-tropez/
  13. ^ http://www.rivierarentalguide.com/explore_riviera/st+tropez/how+to+get+to+st+tropez.html
  14. ^ http://www.helicopter-saint-tropez.com/hubs/monaco.html
  15. ^ https://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/aip/enligne/PDF_AIPparSSection/VAC/AD/2/1113_AD-2.LFTZ.pdf
  16. ^ http://insurance.essentialtravel.co.uk/tg-europe/france/st-tropez-getting-around.asp
  17. ^ http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187242-i667-k601847-Transportation_from_Nice_to_St_Tropez_and_back-St_Tropez_French_Riviera_Cote_d_Azur_Provence.html
  18. ^ http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187242-i667-k181762-Train_bus_from_nice_to_st_tropez-St_Tropez_French_Riviera_Cote_d_Azur_Provence.html
  19. ^ http://www.adventure-sports.co.uk/transfer.htm
  20. ^ http://www.geodruid.com/places/FR:france/saint-tropez:53769/bus-station:5
  21. ^ http://www.beyond.fr/travel/bus16-schedules-provence-france.html
  22. ^ http://www.adventure-sports.co.uk/transfer.htm
  23. ^ http://www.simonseeks.com/getting-around/europe/france/provence/french-riviera-cote-dazur/st-tropez__165948
  24. ^ [1]
  25. ^ http://insurance.essentialtravel.co.uk/tg-europe/france/st-tropez-getting-around.asp
  26. ^ http://www.concierge.com/travelguide/sttropez/factsheet
  27. ^ http://www.helicopter-saint-tropez.com/pages/english/st-tropez-gb.html
  28. ^ http://www.france4families.com/CotedAzur/RegionsCotedAzurTownsStTropez.htm
  29. ^ http://www.satsig.net/walking-france/walking-south-of-france.htm
  30. ^ Notices communales avec tous les recensements
  31. ^ Population 2006 sur le site de l'Insee. Accessed 01/01/2010.
  32. ^ Évolution démographique de 1968 à 2007 sur le site de l'Insee. Accessed 25/07/2010.
  33. ^ Population municipale 2008 sur le site de l'Insee. Accessed 02/01/2011.
  34. ^ Archives climatologiques mensuelles - Cap Camarat (1961-1990)
  35. ^ http://www.saint-tropez.fr/MaMairie/Pr%C3%A9sentationdesservicesmunicipaux/tabid/163/Default.aspx
  36. ^ http://www.ac-nice.fr/college-moulinblanc/
  37. ^ http://www.saint-tropez.fr/MaMairie/Ecoles/Administrationet%C3%A9tablissementsscolaires/Listedes%C3%A9tablissementssurlacommune/tabid/137/Default.aspx
  38. ^ http://www.saint-tropez.fr/MaMairie/Ecoles/tabid/123/Default.aspx
  39. ^ http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.ac-nice.fr/college-moulinblanc/articles.php%3Flng%3Dfr%26pg%3D23&usg=ALkJrhgmt19NOAhOUDdrEZ6JCMEqnINfcQ

[edit] External links

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