In the French Riviera, Maison Bardot is part of an exclusive domaine less than 2km from the heart of Saint Tropez, in the Var department of southern France.
Experience the charm of Saint Tropez as you explore its winding medieval lanes, looking out for boutiques, café terraces and high-end restaurants and soaking up the bustling ambience of the markets at Place des Lices. Then there’s the traditional pastel-coloured fishermen cottages contrasting the glamour of the marina with its luxurious yachts.
You are also close to the beachside restaurants at Plage de Tahiti (2km) or continue south towards the famous beach clubs at Plage de Pampelonne, ten minutes away by car, for sandy shores, summer watersports and exclusive spots such as Club 55 and Nikki Beach.
There is so much more of the glistening Côte d’Azur to discover including the wilder coast around La Croix Valmer, where you will find some wonderful walking trails passing diverse flora and fauna as well as gorgeous bays, idyllic scenery and vineyards producing some excellent Côtes de Provence wines.
Spend time visiting the picture-perfect hilltop villages of this region such as flower-filled Grimaud, home to several fantastic restaurants and a charming antique market every Sunday. Appreciate stunning French Riviera views from other villages including Gassin and Ramatuelle or head further inland to experience the natural beauty of the Maures Massif, a paradise for walkers and nature lovers.
Cycling is also very popular with many marked trails whilst horse-riding, go-karting, paint-balling and other outdoor adventures can be found across the region. Golf lovers can play a round at Golf Club Saint-Tropez (10km), taking in the spectacular scenery as you tee off, or perhaps you would rather admire the Côte d'Azur by boat – a number of excursions depart from Saint Tropez’s port.
The Region
Once a traditional fishing village, Saint-Tropez is now one of the most glamourous destinations of the Côte d’Azur and welcomes visitors from across the world.
However, there’s more to Saint-Tropez bay than exclusive beach clubs, glitzy boutiques and fine dining restaurants. From the family-friendly beaches of Sainte-Maxime to the vineyards of La Croix Valmer, Oliver’s Travels guests can truly admire this enchanting corner of the French Riviera whilst staying in one of our handpicked villas in and around Saint-Tropez.
Soak up the luxurious yet laidback vibe of Saint-Tropez as you wander around its marina lined with huge yachts contrasting colourful fishermen’s houses overlooking the bay. The old quarter is a warren of winding lanes with French designer boutiques, picturesque cafes and restaurants whilst Place des Lices hosts a vibrant Provençal market on a Tuesday and Saturday morning. Enjoy the most glorious vistas from Saint-Tropez’s 17th century citadel and maritime museum. Boat trips are another superb way to tour this part of the coast and passenger ferries cross the bay.
Just south of the town, follow Brigitte Bardot’s footsteps as you visit one of Plage de Pampelonne’s exclusive beach clubs, the most famous being Le Club 55 (always book well in advance). Stretching over 5km, Pampelonne’s long sandy beach is also loved for its vast range of summer watersports including jet-skiing, windsurfing and paddleboarding.
The picture-perfect villages of Saint-Tropez bay are beautifully located to make the most of the French Riviera scenery. On the hillside overlooking Plage de Pampelonne, Ramatuelle has attracted artists and writers over the years and is full of charm – look out for performances during its theatre and jazz festivals in the summer months. Meanwhile, hilltop Gassin is classified as one of France’s 'Plus Beaux Villages’ whilst flower-filled Grimaud is such a pretty medieval village with yet more stunning views of the coast.
Driving into the Maures hills, discover the characterful villages of La Garde-Freinet and Le Plan-de-la-Tour surrounded by oak and chestnut forests, a paradise for hikers, mountain bikers, horse-riding enthusiasts and other outdoor adventurists.
Back to the coast, take a boat tour of Port Grimaud, known as the ‘little Venice of the Côte d’Azur’, and experience its atmospheric Monday evening summer market. Across the other side of the bay, Sainte-Maxime is a lovely sheltered seaside town with pretty cafes, a daily market and gorgeous beaches. Families adore this area – there are tree-top adventures, tennis, mini-golf, a water park and coastal paths for biking and hiking.
Golf-lovers can appreciate a choice of courses – Golf Blue Green as well as the prestigious Beauvallon Golf Club and Golf Club Saint-Tropez. Wine connoisseurs should head to the wine châteaux of Saint-Tropez and Pampelonne as well as the vineyards of La Croix Valmer.
Not forgetting the idyllic shores of soft sand and crystal-clear sea of La Croix Valmer’s coastline from Plage de Sylvabelle to Plage de Gigaro, also home to a wonderful coastal walking trail with the most incredible flora and fauna alongside sensational views of the Mediterranean as you hike towards Cap Lardier and beyond.
