We find ourselves in unprecedented times. It has been disconcerting and saddening to see empty squares and shuttered streets around the world, and our hearts go out to all those affected, wherever they are.

For a while, we may all need to stay grounded. One day, piazzas will fill with selfie-takers again, and bistros will brim with animated chatter. 

While we wait, we reflect on what draws us to the places we love.

I discovered Saint-Tropez many years ago, as a young father, when I took the day cruise across from Nice with my kids, eyeing up all the magnificent coastline villas along the way. We spent five hours doing the inevitable stroll-shop-lunch-ice cream, and I found myself utterly enchanted by the light, the sounds, the colours, the atmosphere  – and that je ne sais quoi…

Later, I explored the paradisiacal beach restaurants and the exceptional nightlife, which are  truly in a class of their own (Tahiti Beach, Byblos, Les Caves du Roy).

At the edge of the old village, at the sailors’ cemetery, begins the path leading to Les Graniers beach, a small cove surrounded by greenery, then onto the great Pampelonne Beach, between Saint-Tropez and Ramatuelle. This is where the Saint-Tropez myth all started when, in 1955, Roger Vadim filmed Brigitte Bardot here. After that, stars from all over the world flocked to the seashore, and the sleepy fishing village became the ultimate in casual très chic – and still is.

Before Saint-Tropez became the playground for the jet-set, only farmland and property inside the village were considered of value by the locals, who bequeathed such land and property to their male heirs, while their daughters had to settle for the useless seafront land. By a delightful twist of fate, some of these short-changed ladies became multi-millionnaires – with long-faced brothers – when waterfront estates became the new must-have amongst the wealthier Saint-Tropez aficionados.

Saint-Tropez has it all. Outrageous yachts, all-night parties, an authentic village (with world-class luxury retail), stunning sandy beaches and landscapes adorned by Aleppo pines, picturesque vineyards and great food prepared by local and international chefs. Plenty of contrast, and it works.

And if you just want to stroll along the coastline, you’re in for an amazing experience. To one side, the azure Mediterranean and its white-crested waves, and to the other, beyond the sand, properties to die for – just my thing.

Further information

See all properties for sale in Saint-Tropez 

• Alex and the global residential team are available remotely for any questions about the market or to simply share stories about their beloved locations.