Saint-Tropez

Saint-Tropez, town in Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte dAzur region, France. Saint-Tropez is a popular holiday resort on the Côte d'Azur. It was originally a Greek trading post, and later suffered frequent Arab attacks. During World War II, the town and waterfront of Saint-Tropez were badly damaged. The quay was blown up by the occupying German forces in August 1944 in a vain attempt to deter Allied landings and the liberation of the town, but the quayside houses have been reconstructed in their original style. Saint-Tropez is named after a 1st-century Roman soldier who became a Christian martyr: an annual Bravade festival is held here each May in his honour. The town's Musée de l'Annonciade has a fine art collection of works by Bonnard, Ronault, Devain, and others, and the 16th-18th-century fort is now a naval museum. Population 5,444 (1999).