Saint-Tropez History: Why true luxury lies elsewhere today

Anyone who thinks the story of Saint-Tropez is told quickly - film stars, yachts, champagne - will be surprised. Behind the myth lies a place with rugged origins, great art, and iconic moments that have made Saint-Tropez what it is today: a symbol of Mediterranean elegance.

In this article, you'll learn how a fishing village became a global symbol of the jet set and the art of living – and why many of the rich and famous no longer seek their retreat in the spotlight, but rather nearby: in quiet Ramatuelle.

Once a secluded port on the Côte d'Azur, Saint-Tropez became a stage for artists, film icons and style pioneers in the 20th century. But while the town shines like never before today, its true history often only reveals itself at second glance.

Anyone strolling through the narrow streets of Saint-Tropez today, between designer boutiques and old stone walls, would hardly realize that this was once a simple fishing village. Yet this is precisely where the story of Saint-Tropez begins – and what makes the contrast between origin and myth so fascinating.

Even in the Middle Ages, the village was a fortified town overlooking the Gulf, at times difficult to access and almost cut off from the rest of France. Pirate attacks, smuggling stories, and seafaring legends shaped the early centuries. The "Citadelle de Saint-Tropez" still recalls this fortified era.

However, Saint-Tropez experienced the decisive change in the late 19th century: When the painter Paul Signac docked here with his yacht “L’Olympia” in 1892, he was immediately fascinated by the light of the bay. He settled here – and attracted other artists. Henri Matisse, Pierre Bonnard, and later Picasso soon followed. The small town became a meeting place for the avant-garde.

But the real turning point came in 1956 with a single film: Et Dieu… créa la femme. The camera showed Saint-Tropez in soft light, barefoot on the beach - and a young Brigitte Bardot who embodied a new femininity. The effect was enormous: Saint-Tropez became a projection screen for freedom, sensuality, and Mediterranean carefreeness.

What began as Saint-Tropez's story quickly developed into a global narrative – art became glamour, a fishing port became a symbol of the French lifestyle.

Brigitte Bardot not only ushered in a new era of film, but also the second major phase in the history of Saint-Tropez. In the 1960s, the small coastal town became the backdrop for a new social movement: freer, more rebellious—and internationally scrutinized.

Bardot, who settled in "La Madrague"—a simple fisherman's hut on the outskirts of Saint-Tropez—as early as 1958, became the town's uncrowned ambassador. Her presence alone was enough to attract photographers, designers, actors, and musicians from all over the world to the French Riviera.

Saint-Tropez became a meeting place for the rich and famous:

• Pablo Picasso and Françoise Sagan strolled through the harbor
• Karl Lagerfeld organized private parties in neighboring villas
• Gunter Sachs, Jane Birkin, Romy Schneider, and later also Mick Jagger, Kate Moss and Beyoncé shaped the new image

Places like the Club 55 on Pampelonne Beach or the Byblos Hotel became social stages - meeting places for the jet set and counterculture at the same time. The dress code: barefoot, tanned, effortlessly elegant.

The history of Saint-Tropez was thus rewritten - not through architecture or politics, but through people, style and an attitude to life that hovered between lightness and excess.

But the more the place shone, the more those seeking real peace and quiet were drawn a little further up the coast – to Ramatuelle.

Just a few minutes' drive from Saint-Tropez, another world begins: rolling hills, pine groves, vineyards – and the village of Ramatuelle, nestled amphitheater-like on the hillside. While Saint-Tropez became a stage for flashbulbs and glamour, Ramatuelle evolved into the preferred destination for all those seeking peace, privacy, and understatement.

As early as the 1980s, celebrities and artists began to specifically settle not in Saint-Tropez, but in the hidden Villas of Ramatuelle. The reasons were obvious: discreet access, spacious grounds, less press – yet still just minutes away from social life.

Today, numerous international names are among the region's discreet regulars – from actors and designers to entrepreneurial families. Those who live or vacation here are less looking for the stage and more for distance from the public eye.

In Ramatuelle, people speak quietly about their neighbors, drive inconspicuous cars, and appreciate the simple things: breakfast overlooking the vines, a private path to Pampelonne beach, or dinner in a hidden garden restaurant.

Celebrities in Ramatuelle avoid attention—and that's precisely what makes the place so appealing to those who know enough about it.

Saint-Tropez has long been more than a jet-set cliché. The golden years with movie stars and champagne nights are part of history – but the magic lives on, more subtly, more stylishly. Those traveling to Saint-Tropez today aren't necessarily looking for the hustle and bustle, but rather the scenery, the atmosphere, and a attitude that lies somewhere between luxury, ease, and Mediterranean heritage.

The new generation of guests loves authenticity: elegant boutiques instead of catwalks, galleries instead of galas, villas with sea views instead of hotel palaces. This is precisely where quiet luxury begins – and runs like a thread from Saint-Tropez up to Ramatuelle.

Casapilot accompanies travelers who want to experience both sides of the Côte d'Azur: the myth of Saint-Tropez – full of history, style, and iconic addresses – and the retreat of Ramatuelle, where luxury means being completely at one with yourself.

The history of Saint-Tropez is unique – a place that evolved from an artists' retreat to an international stage. Brigitte Bardot, Picasso, and many others transformed the fishing village into a legend that resonates to this day.

But those seeking true luxury have long since discovered: the true charm lies not in the spotlight, but just a hill further – in Ramatuelle. Where discreet villas disappear behind pine trees, the authentic spirit of the Côte d'Azur lives on: tranquil, private, and stylish.

Whether you want to experience the myth up close or consciously immerse yourself in a secluded retreat – Casapilot offers you hand-picked accommodations that make both possible. Between Saint-Tropez and Ramatuelle, you'll find not just a region, but a way of life.