Pampelonne Beach

Pampelonne is where the French Riviera summer myth was born. In the 1950s, Brigitte Bardot filmed Et Dieu Créa la Femme here, putting St Tropez on the global map and establishing this sweep of pale golden sand as the most glamorous beach address in the world. The legacy is still palpable: Pampelonne is lined with legendary beach clubs — Club 55 (c.1955), Nikki Beach, Tahiti, Moorea — that have attracted film stars, royalty, and the jet set for seven decades, turning an afternoon on the sand into a full social and gastronomic event.

The beach itself deserves its reputation on pure natural merit: 4 kilometres of fine pale sand, shallow warm water that turns extraordinary shades of translucent turquoise in clear conditions, backed by low vineyards and pine-covered headlands that prevent any high-rise development from spoiling the view. The bay faces east and is protected by the Cap Camarat headland, meaning calmer water than the exposed Atlantic coasts. Families with children will find the gentle shallow entry ideal — the water is warm from mid-June through late September.

There is a free public section at the northern end for budget-conscious visitors, though the landmark experience of Pampelonne involves booking a sunbed at one of the major beach clubs — the all-day hospitality, the rosé, the seafood platters, and the extraordinary people-watching make it worth the premium on at least one day. Booking in advance is essential in July and August, when the most coveted clubs fill their reservations weeks ahead.