Port Grimaud

The Venice of the Var

In the heart of the Gulf of Saint Tropez, the seaside town of Port Grimaud is an architectural exploit dreamed up, conceived and realized by the visionary architect François Spoerry starting in 1966. Final construction was completed in 2000 and Port Grimaud is today listed as part of the Heritage of the 20th Century.

Mediterranean, Port Grimaud is both a port and a true Provençal village. You get about solely by boat or on foot in this village where every house was designed in an authentically Provençal style. Never ceasing to grow, Port Grimaud now has a thousand colourful houses with red roof tiles, 2000 spots for boats, 7 kilometres of canals and 12 kilometres of quays with both private and public moorings. Very lively, the village of Port Grimaud has its own church, shops and businesses, even a post office. And restaurants certainly aren't lacking!

Private and divided into 3 “arrondissements” managed by the associations of property owners, Port Grimaud still remains very welcoming to yachties and all visitors.

Non-residents are required to leave their vehicles in the outdoor parking lot reserved for them at the entrance to the town. A footbridge then leads you to the market square where, in summer, an open-air market takes place every Thursday and Sunday as well as an art market.

The marina of Port Grimaud

Fisherman's boat

As you stroll about, you can admire Spoerry's work. To better integrate the houses into the Mediterranean landscape and give them the air of a real Provençal village, he did not hesitate getting the materials from a very old, recently demolished quarter of Roman-sur-Isère. The Saint François d’Assise Church, where the architect is buried, was inspired by the churches of Les Saintes Maries de la Mer (in the Camargue) and Martigues and has stained glass windows by Viktor Vasarely.

Out of respect for the residents and other visitors, motorcycles, roller skates and skate-boards are forbidden as well as picnics and barbecues.

Vey near Port Grimaud, don't leave the area without visiting the old and beautiful medieval village of Grimaud with its castle perched on a hill. The Petit Train can take you there, passing all the main sights and monuments along the way.

From June to September, the “navettes grimaldines” shuttle boats take you by sea to Saint-Tropez.