Grimaud - Saint-Tropez Tourisme

Grimaud

The sea has its own village

In Grimaud, everything is imbued with emotion, harmony and a sense of fulfilment. The town offers, amidst its stone-built streets and along the water’s edge, the most captivating attractions in the South: a stroll around the medieval village, the mill, the vineyards and the beaches, and a real gem: the lakeside town of Port Grimaud.

A VILLAGE BLESSED BY THE GODS

This picturesque hilltop village has retained all its authentic charm: the cobbled alleyways, the façades with their vaulted arcades, the pastel-coloured windows with their flower-adorned shutters, and the tree-lined squares. The village walking tour, featuring its churches and chapels, reflects the rich history of the town, traces of which are preserved in the Heritage Museum. At the top of the hill, the feudal castle, surrounded by greenery, guarded access to a territory (now the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, formerly the Gulf of Grimaud) known as ‘Freinet’ from the Middle Ages until the French Revolution. The view from the summit is unforgettable.

A CELEBRATION OF CULTURE

Throughout the year, Grimaud comes alive with its numerous cultural and festive events, including contemporary art exhibitions, a street art festival, musical evenings, traditional local festivals, the “Les Grimaldines” world music and street arts festival, the Festival of Light, the Plage de Rock festival, and the medieval festival. Grimaud’s cultural identity serves to showcase the richness of its historical heritage.

THE CHARMING LAKE-SIDE TOWN OF PORT GRIMAUD

Port Grimaud, which came into being in 1966 thanks to the imagination and talent of a visionary architect, François Spoerry, immediately captivates us. Take a stroll along the quays and let yourself be charmed by the bright colours of the two thousand fishermen’s houses with their Roman-style tiles, their moored boats, and the Venetian bridges linking islets adorned with colonnades, retro street lamps and flower-filled basins. Only a small part of the 90-hectare lakeside town is accessible on foot or by boat (rowboat or electric boat), in order to preserve the peace and quiet of the residents.

Add to this the view from the modern church, the lively terraces, the two weekly markets and the water sports available on the vast beach, and you’ll understand why this exceptional place has gained such an international reputation.

LET’S GO FOR A WALK

From the Tourist Office, take the lift up to Place Neuve: the monumental fountain commemorates the arrival of water pumped from the plain. Head towards Place Vieille. Take Rue des Meuniers, then Rue des Templiers. From Saint-Michel Church, head to the castle via Rue du Balladou. Walk back down the signposted path, then take Rue de la Treille and Rue du Baou. Visit the Chapelle des Pénitents on Rue de la Pompe (an old village well). Walk up Rue du Gacharel. Walk down through the archway to Place Neuve, visit the Heritage Museum and return to the starting point. Please note that a map and a family activity booklet are available from the Grimaud Tourist Office.

A BIT OF HISTORY

Legend has it that Gibelin de Grimaldi was the first lord of Grimaud and that he was granted these lands as a reward for his help in driving the Saracens out of the region. Whilst this story has endured through the centuries, the name ‘Grimaud’ is actually thought to derive from a prominent landowner who settled in the area in the 8th or 9th centuries. His estate is said to have given its name first to the hamlet, and then to the village, which was formerly known as ‘Grimaldo’.

MUST-SEES

• Medieval castle (listed building), façade of the Maison des Arcades on Rue des Templiers.

• Chapels (Saint-Roch, Pénitents, Notre-Dame de la Queste on the plain).

• Church (Saint-Michel) and oratories scattered throughout the area.

• Saint-Roch windmill.

• Heritage Museum and Maison des Arcades (exhibitions all year round).

• Pedestrianised streets (mullioned windows, doors framed with black lava or serpentinite…).

• Art galleries and open-air exhibitions (street art, sculptures).

• Port Grimaud (tourist train: return journey, from April to October).

PANORAMIC VIEWS

• Grimaud Castle: views over the village, the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and the Maures mountains.

• The Pont des Fées footpath.

• Grimaud Mill: exceptional views over the Maures mountains and the plain.

• The town hall esplanade.

• In Port Grimaud: Saint-François d’Assise Ecumenical Church (there is an admission charge to access the roof terrace – payment is made ‘at the bottom’ of the church. Entry to the church is free, with views over the lakeside town and the Bay of Saint-Tropez).