This past weekend we had an amazing CEA excursion to St. Tropez. Please enjoy my photos from this trip:
Saint-Tropez is famous for attracting the rich and famous because of its secluded nature. In the summer there are on average 100 helicopter landings per day!
During the high season, it is common to see celebrities. This all began in 1887 when the famous French writer Guy de Maupassant discovered the village's charms, but it really "took off" when local prodigy Brigitte Bardot became a world famous actress in the 1960s.
First we walked around the narrow streets of the quaint town. Above is a photo of town's famous bell tower.
Then we went to the Saturday market in the town square. We wandered around and looked at all the beautiful jewelry, food, fruit, shoes and scarves.
We walked up to the top of the town to get an amazing view of the village.
Then we bought sandwiches at the bakery La Tarte Tropezienne and sat on the docks by the yachts and people watched.
We also had the St. Tropez famous treat tropezienne which is a brioche tarte with pastry cream inside- it is simple and oh so delicious!
We walked up to the top of the town to get an amazing view of the village.
We walked along the paths for more spectacular views.
Then we visited “Musée de l'Annonciade” Museum. The village of Saint-Tropez has been one of the most active centre of "avant-garde" painting since the beginning of the 20th Century, thanks to Paul Signac who, on board his ship l'Olympia, discovered this little fishing harbor in 1892. He fell under the spell of the place, bought a house there, la Hune, which he turned into his studio and invited many other painters to join him: Cross, Matisse, Derain, Marquet.
In the afternoon we stopped in the picturesque village of Grimaud. This town is man made to look like Venice. Canals and boats instead of streets and cars. So beautiful!
A view along the coastline as we made our way back to Antibes.
Chelsea Heil is the Spring 2013 CEA MOJO in the French Riviera