Plage de Pampelonne

Plage de Pampelonne is the long crescent of sand that made the Saint-Tropez peninsula famous for beach life. It is not in Saint-Tropez itself but lies mostly in the neighbouring commune of Ramatuelle, on the southern side of the peninsula, facing the open Mediterranean. The bay runs for about four and a half kilometres between the headlands of Cap Camarat and the Tahiti point at the northern end, and it is one of the longest sandy beaches on this coast. The sand is fine and golden, the water is clear and shelves gently, and the backdrop is a band of dunes, reeds and Aleppo pines, with hills of maquis behind.

The beach became a symbol of the Riviera in the 1950s, when Saint-Tropez was discovered by artists, writers and film people. Brigitte Bardot's film And God Created Woman was shot in the town in 1956, and it put the place on the world map. Beach clubs began to open along the sand soon after, with Club 55, which started as a simple lunch place for film crews, still among the best-known. Today a series of private beaches, the plages privées, line much of the bay, offering sunbeds, restaurants and music, and prices vary a lot from one club to the next. Entry to the beach itself is free, as all French beaches are open to the public, and there are stretches without clubs where you can lay a towel on the open sand.

The water is good for swimming, though wind can raise waves on days of mistral or east wind. Paddleboarding, kayaking and sailing are all possible, and some clubs rent equipment. Windsurfers and kitesurfers use the breezier days, and boats often anchor offshore, so keep an eye out when swimming away from the beach. Much of the back dune is protected, and walkways and fencing keep people off the vegetation, so stay on the paths.

Getting here is the main challenge. The beach is reached by the road from Saint-Tropez or Ramatuelle, and in July and August traffic on the approaches can be very slow, with parking filling early. Many visitors come by bicycle, scooter or the summer bus, or arrive in the morning and leave before the afternoon rush. Out of season the beach is calm, many clubs are closed, and the long walk along the sand is peaceful.

Pampelonne suits people who want a classic Riviera beach day, a long lunch with a sea view or a morning swim followed by a walk in the dunes. Cap Camarat and Cap Taillat are a short drive away for wilder coast.