Beaches in St. Tropez, France

Roger Vadim's 1950s classic film "And God Created Woman" not only made an international sensation out of the actress Brigitte Bardot, but it also brought the once peaceful fishing village of St. Tropez, where it was filmed, to the world's attention. The pine groves of the rocky peninsula had long inspired great writers like Guy de Maupassant and artists such as Henri Matisse, but it took the movies to make it famous. Half a century on, this French Riviera resort still attracts A-list celebrities and jet setters, who meander through the designer boutiques situated on its cobblestone streets, grace its sophisticated nightclubs and pose on its beaches.

Beach Life

• St. Tropez is a playground for the rich and famous. Most of the beaches in the area charge an entrance fee of between $20 to $40 (as of June 2013). For this, you will have access to a host of clubs and restaurants, loungers, parasols and showers. Unsurprisingly, you should be prepared for pricey drinks and meals. The more hedonistic beaches boast DJs, dance floors, hot tubs and scantily-clad visitors wearing enough bling to put Rodeo Drive in the shade. Nevertheless, there are other beaches that are better suited to families or those in search of a bit of tranquility.

Pampelonne

• The area's most renowned stretch of sand was the site of Allied landings in 1944. Today the invaders are more likely to be wearing leopard print bikinis, stilettos and white cowboy hats as they strut their stuff. Pampelonne's copious bars and clubs, where the beautiful people come to be seen, range from the sophisticated Club 55 to the child friendly Les Jumeaux. In the height of summer, the three-mile long beach can attract as many as 30,000 people a day, all willing to pay $40 per person to rent beach loungers and parasols. Located four miles southeast of St. Tropez, Pampelonne is a three-hour walk along the Sentier du Littoral, a coastline pathway.

Village Beaches

• Set in front of the pastel-colored fishermen's houses of the old town, La Glaye, La Ponche and De La Fontanette are delightful little beaches perfect for a relaxing hour or two of celebrity-spotting. The super-yachts moored in the picturesque harbor only add to the allure. Some of Bardot's cult scenes from "And God Created Woman" were shot at La Ponche.

Graniers and Bouillabaisse

• Enfolded in wooded hills, the charming Plage Graniers beach is set at the foot of the 17th-century fortified citadel, just outside the village and a short walk along the Sentier du Littoral. It is public and free, so ideal for those that are not traveling on a millionaire's budget. A bit further west is the peaceful Bouillabaisse, which tends to be less crowded and has a stylish fish restaurant as well as great views of the Maures Mountains. Both have shallow waters and are ideal for families.

Salins

• This creek, with its white sand and pink coral shaded by huge umbrella-like pines, is another jet-set magnet, but more laid back than Pampelonne. At the northern end of the beach, on a rock jutting out to sea, lies the tomb of Emile Olivier, a minister of Napoleon III. Further out is the Tête de Chien (dog's head) rock. It is named after the grisly legend that Roman Emperor Nero beheaded a Christian named Torpes and sent the body out to sea with a dog to devour the remains. When the body came ashore intact, the village adopted Torpes as its saint. Half way between St. Tropez and Pampelonne, Salins can be reached by car on the Route des Salins, or via a two-hour walk along the Sentier du Littoral.