Bay of Saint Tropez
During a break from boarding school last spring I was able to travel with my friend and her family to her grandmother’s villa in the south of France. I hade never been to Europe before and I was so excited. I met her family in New York City and we boarded a flight to Paris. From Paris we took a train to Provence, then rented a car and drove to the villa. When we entered the small village where we were to stay, I wondered which of the Ramatuelle waterfront villas was theirs. When they pointed it out to me I was impressed. It seemed like more of a mansion to me then a villa.
Ramatuelle was beautiful. It was built into the hills looking out over the Bay of Pampelonne. Close to the villa was the famous beach of Pampelonne. The beach was 5-miles of glistening, white sand and crystal clear water. That summer we attended a local jazz festival. We danced all night under the
St. Tropez, France is located in the beautiful French Riviera in an area known for its luxury and elegance. The name St. Tropez comes from a semi-legendary martyr named Saint Torpez. He was beheaded during the reign of Nero and his body was place on a boat with a rooster and a dog.
His body landed in the present day area known as St. Tropez. During his life, Tropez was a renowned captain, who drove Spanish forces away in the 17th century. Parties commemorating the Tropezian army are still celebrated in the area. Today, St. Tropez waterfront estates line the gorgeous French Riviera.
Starting in 1989, realtor and architect, Hubert Abitbol, has been successfully been showing people their dream homes for nearly 20 years. Recently, Abitbol as launched a new site (http://www.villasttropez.com/en/) that focuses on homes in St. Tropez and the surrounding areas in southern France.
Hubert Abitbol is no stranger to business. In 1989, he started Riviera, a real estate firm that still thrives today. Recently, however, Abitbol has taken to the internet, launching his new website, http://www.villasttropez.com/en/.
The site focuses on beautiful properties in St. Tropez, a beautiful town located in the southern France. Abitbol’s specialty is something to be reckoned with; in North America, many new properties are cookie cutter homes with no personality, Abitbol is able to find examples of living art for people to make their homes.
St. Tropez is well known around the globe as a getaway for celebrities, with beautiful beaches for sunbathing and high-end boutiques and cafes. There is also a provincial festival every May in St. Tropez dating back to the 15th century where the entire area celebrates, and a year-round vibrant nightlife for those who enjoy socializing.
The hills that surround St. Tropez houses are perfect for hiking, walking, and cycling, including several marked trails that offer beautiful coastal views. Close proximity is available to several world-class spas, or just pamper yourself with some local wine on your own balcony.
Ramatuelle is a small village with a population of 2,174 that faces out on the Bay of Pampelonne. This famous beach stretches out for 5 km and is shaped by inlets and creeks of crystal-clear water that provide private enclaves that tourists enjoy. Due to its beauty and laid-back vibe, Ramatuelle waterfront property is sought after by people all over the world.
There is a thriving arts scene in Ramatuelle that includes jazz and classical music festivals and frequent acclaimed theater productions. Many celebrities have chosen this area to purchase real estate.
Getting a summer home isn’t something that’s reserved for celebrities and the well-off. You can find some beautiful Saint-Tropez villas for really great prices.
Summer in Saint-Tropez is really nice and you can escape the trappings of the winter bugs, otherwise known as Seasonal Affective Disorder. Thanks to the infinite sunshine, not only can you shake the gloominess of the extended winter/spring seasons, but you can also get a nice tan and some much needed Vitamin D.
Up until recently, I was living in South Dakota, proclaimed by actor Edward Herrmann as the “most boring state in the Union,” and I have to agree. If it weren’t for my job for a major telephone company, I wouldn’t stay there for a single minute. When my job allowed me to telecommute from another location, I decided to bite the bullet and look at Saint-Tropez homes.
I’ve vacationed there several times and I was saddened each time I had to leave. Now I don’t have to tear up, as if I ever leave the town, I’ll be vacationing somewhere else.
Paul Wade
Last Updated: 11:29AM BST 17/07/2008
In the first of a new series, Paul Wade chooses his three favourite beaches in the South of France.
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‘Painted ships float on peacock-green and blue water’ at Plage de Notre-Dame in Porquerolles
Why go?
On the north-east coast of Porquerolles, the Plage de Notre-Dame is straight out of an old Bounty bar advertisement. A crescent of sand outlines the bay, where painted ships float on peacock-green and blue water. One of the Iles d’Or, Porquerolles lies just off Hyères. The island is the French Riviera the way it should be: eucalyptus and pine trees perfuming the air, sandy paths to beaches, mountain bikes rather than cars, and outdoor restaurants serving locally caught fish. Most of the island is conserved as a national park; smoking is banned outside town.
Who goes?
Greta Garbo-types who “want to be alone”.
What is there to do?
Swimming, snorkelling and goggling at the view. Take your time over a picnic, with a bottle of the island-grown organic rosé from Sébastien Le Ber’s Domaine de l’Ile.
God still creates women on the Côte d’Azur, according to Tania Cagnoni; Times online; August 8, 2005
Dazzling sun, rich older men, blue skies and convertibles are as much a part of the backdrop to St-Tropez today as they were when Vadim’s film about the wild teenage orphan Juliette with a passion for Mambo and caddishly handsome Antoine (Christian Marquand), launched Bardot into superstardom.
Simultaneously, it thrust St-Tropez – formerly an insignificant fishing village - into the limelight, and the fishing village promptly re-invented itself as the Cristal-quaffing, diamond-rattling playground for the hyper-branché that it is today.
Although little of the original simplicity remains, the warm colours, stylish shops, cobbled streets, harbourside cafes and wild beach clubs make it worth a visit.
And for those who prefer rural calm to jet-setting, vineyards and peaceful pine forests can still be found hidden in the lanes of its Ramatuelle district.
The Saint Tropez Real Estate Market is cyclic, as most financial markets. It is not linear.
It’s a LONG TERM INVESTMENT, An EXCELLENT ONE, perhaps the best!
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