In the coastal town of Saint-Tropez, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France

 "Travel, like dreams, is a door that opens from the real world into a world that is yet to be discovered.

-- Guy de Maupassant
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(in the Var department and the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (in southern France) ) Set against the backdrop of the Maures hills and beautiful villages of Gassin and Ramatuelle, the coast of Saint-Tropez has coves dotted with umbrella pines and sandy beaches: Plage Tahiti, Plage des Salins, and Plage de Pampelonne. Set in the heart of the old quarter under the town’s church bell tower, the port of Saint-Tropez is lined with old houses painted in pastel colors. (Erected in the early 17th century, the Citadel stands guard over the town from its rock.) Originally a simple fishermen’s village, Saint-Tropez rose to worldwide fame in the 1950s, when wealthy clients first anchored their yachts in its port and set down their bags in the town’s lavish villas to revel in Saint-Tropez’ legendary atmosphere, luxury boutiques, chic cafés -– including the famous Café Sénéquier, a local institution with its terrace and red chairs, restaurants and buzzing nightlife.

+ This former fishing village has become a hotspot for celebrities, jet-setters, and art lovers, who flock to its sandy beaches, and charming Old Town. You can admire the yachts in the harbor, stroll along the colorful streets, visit the museums that showcase the artistic heritage of Saint-Tropez, or enjoy the local cuisine and wine.

+ Brigitte Bardot came to frolic on the beaches of St. Tropez in the 1950s to star in Et Dieu Créa la Femme (And God Created Woman, in 1956) and transformed the peaceful fishing village into a sizzling jet-set favorite. Tropeziens have thrived on their "sexy" image ever since: at the Vieux Port, yachts like spaceships jostle for millionaire moorings, and infinitely more tourists jostle to admire them. Most of the sandy hot spots lie southwest of town on the Baie de Pampelonne.

+ Over the decades Saint-Tropez has attracted the world’s greatest artists, drawn by the town’s unique quality of light and genteel lifestyle. In the late 19th century, Guy de Maupassant anchored his yacht, Le Bel-Ami, in the little port. The author immediately fell in love with the town, as did the young artist Paul Signac some years later. Henri Matisse painted « View of Saint-Tropez » there. From 1925 onwards, the writer Colette spent every winter in Saint-Tropez. The town was also frequented by Errol Flynn and Jean Cocteau. In the 1960s, the town was the location for the mythical film And God Created Woman by Roger Vadim, starring his dazzling wife Brigitte Bardot. During the same era, famous French actor Louis de Funès was making his mark at the local Gendarmerie with the hilarious Troops of Saint-Tropez film saga; the site has now been converted into the Musée de la Gendarmerie et du Cinéma.