Long before Brigitte Bardot transformed the sleepy fishing village by filming the iconic 1956 movie And God Created Woman on Pampelonne beach, Saint-Tropez had been a magnet for the cultured, sensual and creative. It was around the end of the 19th century that artists began arriving here in full force but it is, of course, Paul Signac who remains the most intertwined with local lore and history. It was through his invitation and generous hosting of fellow artist friends that others, such as Henri Matisse, Albert Marquet and Henri Manguin, came to know of — and fall in love with —Saint-Tropez. Pierre Bonnard and Georges Braque also visited and found great inspiration in the surrounding landscapes and glorious, golden light that seemed to make the entirety of the region glimmer.
The jewel of the Côte d’Azur in the French Riviera has always and unequivocally been Saint-Tropez. Somehow, no other town along the coast can combine nonchalant chic and subtle glamour quite the way it can. Despite being surrounded by other megawatt names like Cannes, Antibes, Juan-les-Pins and Monaco, Saint-Tropez continues to hold on to its crown.
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