A day in St. Tropez - Streets and La Citadelle

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Lightbox (80) Tags: cte-dazur   france   french-riviera   resorts   st-tropez Posted: Dec. 31, 2007 by Val
Le Girelier, seafood restaurant

41. Le Girelier, seafood restaurant. The restaurant is famous for its fresh seafood and some its admirers consider the restaurant "a happy experience". Indeed it looks very attractive. But we did not risk to have our lunch there after we saw a dish of lobsters covered with house flies.

There are few yachts like this now

42. There are few yachts like this now - no sleek forms of sailing boats or brilliance of mighty superyachts. It looks more like a barge. Perhaps luxury barge judging by its exterior with polish wood and shiny brass features. It was the only boat of this type we saw that day in Saint Tropez port, and it was nice to see something like this for a change.

Musee de L'Annonciade (The Annunciation Museum) court

43. Musee de L'Annonciade (The Annunciation Museum). In the court of this famous in Saint-Tropez landmark you can see an old boat with glass ornaments. This piece of whimsical art is quite in style with the museum which houses neo-impressionist paintings since 19th century.

Musee de L'Annonciade (The Annunciation Museum) entrance

44. Musee de L'Annonciade (The Annunciation Museum) entrance. The Annunciation Museum is situated inside Chapel of the Annonciade which was built between 1510 and 1558 and in 19th century turned into a museum. Nowadays it contains the works of such artists as Seurat, Matisse, Signac, Utrillo.

'Modern' avenue at St. Tropez

45. 'Modern' avenue at St. Tropez. Don't think that all streets in Saint-Tropez are of a cultural and historic value. Wandering around the town we came across quite unexpectedly this piece of a townscape and were shocked by its plain ugliness.

Private beach at St.Tropez (Residence de la Pinede)

46. Private beach at St.Tropez (Residence de la Pinede). There are no public beaches within the town limits. You can only find some private ones in Saint Tropez: like this one - sand, sea and nobody around. All beach activity in the area happens mostly on Plage de Pampelonne - about 6 miles to the south of the town or Plage de Tahiti - north of it. Be prepared to walk or hire a taxi; bus or boat may be an option too.

Huge cruise ships are not unusual to see at St. Tropez

47. Huge cruise ships are not unusual to see at St. Tropez. As a rule they are anchored in the middle of the harbor. Small boats take the passengers from and to the town. A cruise-ship may stay for a day; then it is gone but there can be soon another one in its place.

Motorbikes and mopeds are the most popular means of transportation

48. Motorbikes and mopeds are the most popular means of transportation. And it is not surprising. Saint-Tropez is built on a hill, old part of the town has narrow, hilly, crooked streets. You can rent a bike for the day at Holiday Bikes (14, avenue du G.Leclerc) for approximatly 26 Euros($33) or a moped for12 Euros ($15.25).

A cozy bar

49. A cozy bar. Imagine, it is close to 11 am, but you already start looking for a place to have lunch. You go along an old street - one turn, another, and suddenly you are on a small cute square with this cozy bar. Yet, it is too early to eat and you continue your way.

Window display of Berthon International yacht broker

50. Window display of Berthon International yacht broker. Where there are yachts, there is a yacht broker. Saint-Tropez is about yachts, boats, ships. That's why in one of the galleries next to the latest fashion window display we came across these adds from Berthon International.

Typical street at St Tropez

51. Typical street in St Tropez. Terracotta color houses, slate pavements with the carvings of pink granite and a stripe of bright blue sky - that is how St Tropez presents its streets and allees to a newcomer.

Grenadine restaurant (15 rue de la Citadelle)

52. Grenadine restaurant (15 rue de la Citadelle). Climbing higher and higher Saint-Tropez hills (our goal is the Citadel which crowns the city) we come across small, cozy restaurant; accommodates: inside -12, outside - 23, with traditional cuisine - specialties fish, 30 -50 Euro.

Chapelle de la Misericorde as seen from rue de la Citadelle

53. Chapelle de la Misericorde as seen from rue de la Citadelle. The view of Chapel's sunlit tower from the shadows of cobblestone paved old street is stunning. It takes you to 1645 when the Chapelle was built and for a minute or two you continue looking back at the tower, its bell and greenish dome.

Chapelle de la Misericorde, 17th century, detail (rue Miséricorde)

54. Chapelle de la Misericorde, 17th century, detail (rue Miséricorde). It is not so easy to part with Chapelle. You can view it from another angle - rue Miséricorde. Triple arched passages following one after another make you feel like in a castle; dust pink walls and terracotta tile on the roof lighten the street with the sun.

Gallery Atelier IVAN (Ivan Z. Jovanovic ), Place de la Mairie

55. Gallery Atelier IVAN (Ivan Z. Jovanovic), Place de la Mairie. As many painters before him he came to Saint-Tropez to depict its charming allees and squares, busy life of harbor, yachts and surrounding landscapes.

Eglise Paroissiale, 18th Century

56. Eglise Paroissiale, 18th Century. Parish Church in Saint-Tropez was built between 1779-1786. The builder is unknown. If you look at the church from the facade you can see the statue of protector of the city - Saint Tropez above the entrance (but we are looking from the back now).

Place de L'Ormeau

57. Place de L'Ormeau. Having seen Eglise Paroissiale from the short distance now we are looking at it from the other side of Place de L'Ormeau. The scene is so colorful: bell tower of the church mounts proudly its three terracotta and ochre-colored levels into the blue sky. The place radiates peace and quiet.

A narrow passage

58. A narrow passage. This street reminded me some narrow streets in Venice where two people cannot pass without pushing each other. But it does not mean that they are less fascinating because of it. As you see, you can find something like this in Saint-Tropez too.

Road Montee de la La Citadelle

59. Road Montee de la La Citadelle. Our next destination is La Citadelle. We need to climb the hill which commands the principal view of the city and harbor. Wide, sunny Road Montee de la La Citadelle with pines on both sides takes us to the entrance. Before entering we have a five-minute rest to enjoy pine aroma, the hill and the view.

La Citadelle, entrance

60. La Citadelle, entrance. We are at La Citadelle entrance. First, we have to pass the gate through the large surrounding walls which were finished in 1620-1630s and are a part of the Citadelle's fortifications.

La Citadelle, detail of the gate mechanism

61. La Citadelle, detail of the gate mechanism. Through the gate you get into the court yard of the fortress. One cannot but admire the huge size of the wall and intricate mechanism of the gate.

16th century door - still in use

62. 16th century door - still in use. During the centuries since it was built, La Citadelle was the purpose of various works. Some of them were aimed at maintaining it, others - at improving the system of defense and garrison's living conditions. As you see, these efforts (continued even now) have not been in vain. The door is still in use!

La Citadelle

63. La Citadelle. Having crossed the court yard with several small houses (people still live in some of them), we approach the heart of La Citadelle - the tower, now called "donjon." It was built in 1602 at times of king Henry IV by his fortification engineer Raymond de Bonnefons.

La Citadelle - one of the towers

64. La Citadelle - one of the towers. The donjon is a huge building visible from the distance with an inner courtyard and a moat (now dry). This construction was very characteristic of the 16th and 17th Province costal fortifications. In Fort Carre of Antibes and in Chateau d'If of Marseilles you can see similar fortresses.

Inner court in Citadelle

65. Inner court in Citadelle. When you pass the bridge (with security on it) and the gate you enter the inner court which has a hexagon shape. The first impression that it is very white and bright inside A number of entrances and stairs lead up and down to different levels of the donjon.

La Citadelle - cannons and modern art

66. La Citadelle - cannons and modern art. These cannons are not a joke. During the First Empire, the Royal Navy did not dare to enter the town, fearing the shoots of The Citadelle cannons. Some pieces of modern art (there was modern art exhibition when we visited the fortress) placed next to cannons looked quite entertaining.

La Citadelle, St Tropez view

67. La Citadelle, St Tropez view. You can enjoy St Tropez view from the court yard which surrounds the donjon. On the left, there is a small house which is habitable and in use.

St. Tropez from La Citadelle's top

68. St. Tropez from La Citadelle's top. The city view from the top of the fortress is stunning. As the tower was built "on the hill of mills", not once its massive construction, which one can see from the sea, discouraged the enemy in the past.

View from La Citadelle on the Bay of St.Tropez

69. View from La Citadelle on the Bay of St.Tropez. Visible from the bay of St.Tropez as huge building, the fortress often defended the city merely by its threatening appearance. However, in 1637 it did not discourage the Spaniards. They attacked the town but failed and had to retreat.

La Citadelle - hosting modern art

70.La Citadelle - hosting modern art. To get into the inner court of La Citadelle you need to cross the bridge over the moat. It is dry nowadays and serves as one of the sites for modern art exhibition.

Modern art exposition at Citadelle

71. Modern art exposition at Citadelle. We are inside one of the rooms of the donjon. The floors are paved with stone, solid stone walls surround us. In spite the presence of a modern art exhibit, the feeling that you are lost in time somewhere in 16th century doesn't leave you.

Modern art exposition at Citadelle

72. Modern art exposition at Citadelle. This piece of art aroused our curiosity. What can it be? May be see dragon. At least on the white wall it looked cute.

Having lunch at the restaurant de la Citadelle (rue Aire du Chemin)

73. Having lunch at the Restaurant de la Citadelle (rue Aire du Chemin) After a long trip, Restaurant de la Citadelle seems to be a nice place to rest and eat, (a bottle of Bandol, two filet mignons and a bottle of mineral water - 79 Euro) as well as watching passers-by.

Nice restaurant entrance

74. Nice restaurant entrance. Never been there but the entrance attracts attention. May be next time?

Rather dull architecture can also be found in St. Tropez

75. Rather dull architecture can also be found in St. Tropez. This plain facade building with windows behind iron grids looks more like a prison but you can find an expensive restaurant inside.

The center of the town - Place Des Lices

76. The center of the town - Place Des Lices. Suddenly, after crooked narrow streets, you are on a huge square with big nicely trimmed trees. Two colors compete in this place - white gravel under your feet and blue sky over your head. The place is surrounded with restaurants, shops, hotels, ateliers.

A small park between rue Boutin and rue Aicard

77. A small park between rue Boutin and rue Aicard. What can be better than a spot of shade after a long walk in a hot bright sun. You can sit on the bench looking through your tourist guides and maps and guessing your new destination.

Hotel La Maison Blanche near Place des Lices

78. Hotel La Maison Blanche near Place des Lices. One last look at the center of St.Tropez. Hotel La Maison Blanche, (a white building with gray roof) as you see, looks accordingly to its name - "White Mansion."

   

Part I - Destination Saint-Tropez - Marina
Part II - A day in St. Tropez - Streets and La Citadelle.

Pages:  1 2

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