Saint-Tropez

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by CyberdyneT850Model101 (talk | contribs) at 15:28, 29 May 2012. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For other uses, see Saint-Tropez (disambiguation).
Saint-Tropez
Church of Saint-Tropez
Church of Saint-Tropez
Flag of Saint-Tropez
Flag
Coat of arms of Saint-Tropez
Coat of arms
Location of Saint-Tropez
Map
CountryFrance
RegionProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
DepartmentVar
ArrondissementDraguignan
CantonSaint-Tropez
Government
 • Mayor (2008–) Jean-Pierre Tuveri
Area
1
15.18 km2 (5.86 sq mi)
Population
 (2006)
5,690
 • Density370/km2 (970/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
83119 /83990
Elevation0–113 m (0–371 ft)
(avg. 15 m or 49 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Saint-Tropez (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ tʁoˈpe]; Sant Tropetz in Occitan) is a town, 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). 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".

History

Aerial view of Saint-Tropez, with marked Pampelonne beach in background, the citadel and the port in the foreground.
Citadel of Saint-Tropez.

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.

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. DJ Antoine wrote a song called "welcome to St. Tropez" which talks about going there and spending all the money they got.

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 sail 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.

Port of Saint-Tropez

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.

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 fulfilled 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.

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

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.

Topless and nudity in Saint-Tropez

Following the sexual liberation of the late 50s/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 a 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 nudists often head to private, nudist beaches, like that in Cap d' Agde.[10]

Transport

Getting to\from the Saint Tropez

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, Saint Maxime, Cannes, Saint Raphael.[11]

By air

There is no airport located in Saint-Tropez. But there is an charter service to/from clubs, town, and Tropezian beaches by helicopters.[12]

The nearest airport is La Môle - Saint-Tropez Airport (French: Aéroport de La Môle - Saint-Tropez) (IATA: LTT, ICAO: LFTZ) located in La Môle, 15 km (8 NM) southwest of Saint-Tropez.[13] Other main airports are:

By land

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.[15] Also there is a direct bus service to Saint Tropez, and the rail station is connected with bus station.[16][17]

Bus

There is a bus station in Saint Tropez called in the French: GARE ROUTIÈRE DE SAINT-TROPEZ located in Place Blanqui.[18]

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 [19]

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

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.[20]

Own vehicle

In season there is a lot of traffic problems on roads to Saint-Tropez,[21] 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 the Saint Tropez[22]:

  • 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 kilometers.
  • 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.

Transport in Saint-Tropez

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

Public transport in Saint-Tropez include mass transport service - mini buses, which remain as a shuttle service between town and Pampelonne beaches.[23]

Other ways of transport include: scooters, cars, bicycles and taxis.[24] Of course there are also helicopter services,[25] and boat trips.[26]

Because of traffic, and low distances, popular is also walking. From trips around this not so big town to walks to the Tropezian beaches.[27]

Demography

Histogram
(Population movements in Saint-Tropez).[28][29][30][31]

Climate

Climate data: Saint-Tropez
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Yearly
Maximum mean 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
Minimum mean 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
Average 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.[32]

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.[33]

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.[34][35]

There are more than 1000 students distributed among kindergartens, primary schools and one "high school".[36] In 2011 there were 275 students in "high school", 51 people working there, from that 23 were teachers.[37]

Famous persons connected with Saint-Tropez

Probably the most famous should be the semi-legendary martyr which given an name to the town : Saint Torpes of Pisa. Hasekura Tsunenaga - the first probably Japanese in Europe, landed in Saint-Tropez as early as in 1615. Hero of the American Revolutionary War: admiral Pierre André de Suffren de Saint Tropez is a person with place in history. Icon of modern Saint-Tropez is Brigitte Bardot, who started the clothes-optional revolution and still lives in Saint-Tropez area.[38] Louis de Funès who played the character of gendarme(police officer) in French comedy film series Le gendarme de Saint Tropez made also the international recognisable image of Saint-Tropez as a calm town with modern jet-set holiday target.[39]

Gallery

  • Saint-Tropez "le vieux port" (the old port)
    Saint-Tropez "le vieux port" (the old port)
  • The beaches of Pampelone and Bonne Terrase
    The beaches of Pampelone and Bonne Terrase
  • Cannons of the Citadel
    Cannons of the Citadel
  • The Tour Jarlier in Saint Tropez
    The Tour Jarlier in Saint Tropez
  • The Saint-Tropez Marina
    The Saint-Tropez Marina
  • View of the port of Saint-Tropez
    View of the port of Saint-Tropez
  • Sailboats at the Saint-Tropez marina
    Sailboats at the Saint-Tropez marina
  • Cafes, and harbour in the Saint-Tropez Marina
    Cafes, and harbour in the Saint-Tropez Marina
  • Old gendarmerie station. Famous photoshoot place in Saint-Tropez.[40]
    Old gendarmerie station. Famous photoshoot place in Saint-Tropez.[40]

Localization

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

See also

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.rivierarentalguide.com/explore_riviera/st+tropez/how+to+get+to+st+tropez.html
  12. ^ http://www.helicopter-saint-tropez.com/hubs/monaco.html
  13. ^ https://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/aip/enligne/PDF_AIPparSSection/VAC/AD/2/1113_AD-2.LFTZ.pdf
  14. ^ http://insurance.essentialtravel.co.uk/tg-europe/france/st-tropez-getting-around.asp
  15. ^ 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
  16. ^ http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187242-i667-k181762-Train_bus_from_nice_to_st_tropez-St_Tropez_French_Riviera_Cote_d_Azur_Provence.html
  17. ^ http://www.adventure-sports.co.uk/transfer.htm
  18. ^ http://www.geodruid.com/places/FR:france/saint-tropez:53769/bus-station:5
  19. ^ http://www.beyond.fr/travel/bus16-schedules-provence-france.html
  20. ^ http://www.adventure-sports.co.uk/transfer.htm
  21. ^ http://www.simonseeks.com/getting-around/europe/france/provence/french-riviera-cote-dazur/st-tropez__165948
  22. ^ http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Tropez#Acc.C3.A8s_-_transports
  23. ^ http://insurance.essentialtravel.co.uk/tg-europe/france/st-tropez-getting-around.asp
  24. ^ http://www.concierge.com/travelguide/sttropez/factsheet
  25. ^ http://www.helicopter-saint-tropez.com/pages/english/st-tropez-gb.html
  26. ^ http://www.france4families.com/CotedAzur/RegionsCotedAzurTownsStTropez.htm
  27. ^ http://www.satsig.net/walking-france/walking-south-of-france.htm
  28. ^ Notices communales avec tous les recensements
  29. ^ Population 2006 sur le site de l'Insee. Consulté le 01/01/2010.
  30. ^ Évolution démographique de 1968 à 2007 sur le site de l'Insee. Consulté le 25/07/2010.
  31. ^ Population municipale 2008 sur le site de l'Insee. Consulté le 02/01/2011.
  32. ^ Archives climatologiques mensuelles - Cap Camarat (1961-1990)
  33. ^ http://www.saint-tropez.fr/MaMairie/Pr%C3%A9sentationdesservicesmunicipaux/tabid/163/Default.aspx
  34. ^ http://www.ac-nice.fr/college-moulinblanc/
  35. ^ http://www.saint-tropez.fr/MaMairie/Ecoles/Administrationet%C3%A9tablissementsscolaires/Listedes%C3%A9tablissementssurlacommune/tabid/137/Default.aspx
  36. ^ http://www.saint-tropez.fr/MaMairie/Ecoles/tabid/123/Default.aspx
  37. ^ 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
  38. ^ http://www.nndb.com/people/815/000023746/
  39. ^ http://www.travelgrove.com/destinations/France-Saint-tropez-reviews-664740/My-dream-vacation-in-Saint-Tropez-80745.html
  40. ^ http://www.frenchfriends.info/french-riviera/saint-tropez

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint-Tropez.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saint-Tropez&oldid=494965907"