Villa Taureau is located a short distance from Saint-Tropez in a partly residential area with vineyards, woodland and other holiday residences nearby. The iconic beach, Plage de Pampelonne, is around 10 minutes by car.
The heart of Saint-Tropez is only 2.5km away and even closer is a small sandy bay (1km) with a lovely view as well as a beachside restaurant with summer sun beds to hire (book in advance) – it’s especially beautiful at sunset.
Spend hours wandering around Saint-Tropez visiting its boutiques, bars and high-end restaurants, admiring luxurious yachts from the harbourfront and pottering around the old quarter with its charming baroque church and pretty squares. Experience the twice weekly market at Place des Lices, a great way to stock up on provencal delights. Meanwhile, a choice boat excursions and ferries (as well as private yacht charters) depart from the marina.
South of Saint-Tropez, Plage de Pampelonne stretches over 5km in length – the nearest part to the north is only 5.5km from the villa whilst its most famous beach clubs, Le Club 55 (6.5km) and Nikki Beach (7.5km) are just a little further. Discover a wealth of watersports along the sandy shores from pedalo hire and paddle-boarding to water-skiing and other adventurous activities.
This is also a great location for visiting the vineyards and wine chateaux between Saint-Tropez, Pampelonne and Gassin, the most famous being Château Minuty (5km). Continue on to the perched village of Gassin (7km), one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, and be inspired by its medieval lanes and glorious vistas, or spend time in flower-filled Ramatuelle (10km) so loved for its historic charm and summer festivities.
Tour the canals, bridges and pretty houses of Port Grimaud (6km) by boat and visit its weekly market (as well as a lovely night market in July and August). Hilltop Grimaud (10km) is another gem with views of Saint-Tropez bay or continue through the chestnut and oak forests towards characterful La Garde-Freinet (20km) or even as far as the Provençal wineries around Lorgues (50km).
Slightly closer to home is Sainte-Maxime (14km), best reached by ferry from Saint-Tropez, and Cavalaire-sur-Mer (16km), both lovely seaside towns with fantastic beaches and a family-friendly reputation.
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.
