In early July, three friends and I road tripped from Barcelona to beautiful southern France for a few days to enjoy the tranquil countryside and French Riviera summer sun. We spent a few days exploring the small towns and lavender fields of the Provence region (which I will feature in another post), and stopped in Saint-Tropez for some beach time. A popular vacation spot for many Northern Europeans and celebrities, Saint-Tropez has been a great influence and stomping ground for many artists, musicians, and film makers over the years. As the town itself is fairly expensive, we decided to stay just across the bay near Port Grimaud, featured above. This quaint little seaside town was designed by architect Francois Spoerry in the 1960's, He modified marshes that bordered the sea into canals that meander like streets around the colorful houses where, instead of cars, you find boats parked in front. It's the French Riviera's Venice.
Although the beach in Saint-Tropez is beautiful, it was a bit crowded for our taste. For some Mediterranean sun and sea we decided to venture south about a 30 minutes’ drive to L'escalet, a stunning, more secluded beach with crystal blue water and a more natural shoreline. There wasn’t much around but a few beautiful cliff side homes, a parking lot, some boats anchored on the horizon, and good friends to share the view with.
Saint-Tropez’s old town is bustling with upscale shops, seaside restaurants, and grand yachts docked in the harbor to take a break from their Mediterranean cruising. We loved exploring the colorful streets, passing through the lively fish market, enjoying local pastries, and finishing our day with a delicious meal together as we listened to a local musician serenade the setting sun.
Labels: France, French Riviera, Mediterranean, Provence France, Saint-Tropez, Saint-Tropez Blog, Southern France, Travel Blog, Travel Photography, TRLT
