Port Grimaud!

Port Grimaud is the creation of the visionary architect, the late François Spoerry. The port is a miniature Venice, created for the owners of sailing craft who could afford to have a house built there in traditional Provencal style ? but with modern amenities. Houses are built in several different styles, mirroring the buildings of the past when architects had not existed, each painted a different colour to its neighbour. This joyful and decorative effect helps to create the vibrant attitude throughout Port Grimaud.  There is an interdenominational church, shops, banks, hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars and two wide sandy beaches, with a beautiful view of St Tropez across the bay.

Port Grimaud is now 40 years old; each house is a living entity reminding the close affiliation we have with the sea. Through each unique building, from open apartments to its houses, the wealth of the exceptional city is translated into a vision emphasising the quality of life that goes hand in hand with the sea.

Today the characteristics of this exceptional city are maintained by the locals, each house has to conform to that of its neighbours to keep this beautiful city as it?s always been. A safe environment for all, within this pedestrianised environment (parking is in provided across from the port) it is possible to find complete silence amongst the buildings and narrow alleys.

Around Port Grimaud

Market days are a colourful treat in Port Grimaud and the surrounding towns and well worth attending. Port Grimaud has markets in the Place du Marche on Thursdays and Sundays and a small market in the Place François Spoerry on Mondays and Fridays. There are usually stalls with a huge range of locally produced foodstuffs, pottery, traditional soaps and scents, herbs, antiques, bric-a-brac and clothes. Nearby Ramatuelle and Gassin are two very famous and pretty hill villages with remarkable views. The area around the Cavalaire is also very pretty and has some very good beaches.

In the hills, above the delightful seaside resort of Gigaro, is a beautiful and elegant hotel, the Soulieias, worth a visit just for a drink and to admire the view. St. Tropez is a pretty and popular town and very busy during July and August. There are restaurants on the harbour that provide a good place from which to view the yachts and the people.

The Ste Tropez Saturday market is a must. Ste Maxime is famous for its old fashioned charm, shops cafes and restaurants and is popular with the British.

The town of Coglin is worth a visit. Unlike most of the coastal towns, it functions all year round and prices are reasonable compared with elsewhere in the area. If you have money to spare Monte Carlo is a popular one day excursion.