A short drive/bike ride from the pretty village of Grimaud and the sandy shores of Plage de Grimaud, Residence St Tropez is one of eight upmarket apartments set in vast and attractive grounds.
The apartments are in a residential setting, rural yet not remote with other holiday residences nearby and good road connections to the coast or hills, less than an hour to Toulon Hyères Airport (47km). You could also fly into Nice Airport (100km) or take the direct TGV train from Paris to Gare Saint-Raphaël Valescure (33km).
The heart of hilltop Grimaud is just over 2km away by car (or electric bike perhaps, a great way to explore the local area). Potter around the flower-filled winding lanes coming across old houses, little shops, art galleries, restaurants and glorious views, especially from Église Saint-Michel and Château de Grimaud. A Provençal market takes place on a Thursday morning alongside other festivities and markets across the season. The village is full of charm and will enchant you in every way.
Practically speaking, there is a good-sized supermarket just south of Grimaud and a larger hypermarket within a 10-minute drive. Plage de Grimaud (4.5km) is easily reached, a sandy beach popular with families with summer watersports and seasonal beachside restaurants.
The apartments are very well located for reaching several activities including go-karting, tree-top adventures, mini-golf and the summer evening amusement park, Azur Park. Golf-lovers note that Golf-Up is only 2km away whilst the prestigious 18-hole course at Beauvallon Golf Club is 6.5km by car.
Often called the ‘little Venice of the Côte d’Azur’, visit Port Grimaud (5km) to discover its canals, colourful houses and bridges by boat or dine in one of the quayside restaurants in this relatively modern yet very picturesque town. As well as the Sunday and Thursday morning market, look out for occasional Monday morning craft markets and a delightful marché nocturne on Monday evenings in July and August.
The allure of Saint-Tropez is just 10km away – some visitors choose to hop on a ferry from Port Grimaud to avoid the summer traffic. There’s no doubt that Saint-Tropez is a brilliant day out, one of France’s most famous destinations famed for its glamourous reputation. Take time to discover its more authentic side too as you wander around the historic quarter and experience the bustling twice-weekly market at Place des Lices.
Saint-Tropez’s exclusive beach clubs can be found at Plage de Pampelonne (14km) as well as a range of watersports along the long sandy beach. If you prefer the wilder side of the coast, venture to Plage de l'Escalet (16.5km) for hiking paths, scuba-diving and sea-kayaking in beautiful surroundings. Stop off in hilltop Ramatuelle (12km) en route for lunch in a restaurant on a bougainvillea-clad lane.
La Croix-Valmer (10km) is loved for its vineyards, wine-tasting and idyllic beaches such as Plage de Gigaro (15km) and Plage d’Héraclée (14.5km) – there are more wonderful walking paths along this part of the coastline too.
On the other side of Saint-Tropez bay is family-friendly Sainte-Maxime (11km) with its shops, daily market, café terraces, marina and glorious beaches. Alternatively, drive further inland towards the pretty village of La Garde-Freinet (12km) in the Maures hills surrounded by vineyards and forests of chestnut and oak trees, ideal for hiking, biking and horse-riding.
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.
