Port Grimaud and Grimaud

The waterfront behind the 'Rue des Artisans'

The waterfront behind the Rue des Artisans

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Port Grimaud, the Marina

In 1962, François Spoerry, an Alsatian architect from Mulhouse, bought a large plot of marshy swampland on the shores of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and built Port Grimaud, a marina modeled after a lakeside village of pile dwellings. The initial building permits were issued in 1966, and as early as 1967, the first homes were delivered to their owners.

Each house is accessible from land and from a wharf where residents can dock their boats. All in all, there are 2,400 homes, and every single one is different. The dwellings vary in size, shape, and color and are built on 22 hectares (54 acres) of land, distributed over a dozen islands joined by fourteen bridges and one overpass, and lined by 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) of waterfront along which 2,000 boats can be berthed. The 7 kilometers (4.5 miles) of channels add 13 hectares (32 acres) to the size of Port Grimaud, making the total a respectable 35 hectares (86 acres). For obvious reasons, Port Grimaud is often called "The Venice of Provence".


The marina entrance by the 'Pont de la Poterne' Crossing the 'Rue des Artisans'

The marina entrance by the Pont de la Poterne

Crossing the Rue des Artisans


Looking down one of the many channels The other side of the same channel

Looking down one of the many channels

The other side of the same channel


On the 'Place du Marché' On the 'Place du Marché'

On the Place du Marché

On the Place du Marché


On the 'Place du Marché' The only wooden overpass in Port Grimaud

On the Place du Marché

The only wooden overpass in Port Grimaud


Apartment buildings along the water Looking towards the church

Apartment buildings along the water

Looking towards the church


The view from our lunch table at 'La Marina' Marina View

The view from our lunch table at La Marina

Marina View


The waterfront behind the 'Rue de l'Île Longue' The waterfront behind the 'Place du Marché'

The waterfront behind the Rue de l'Île Longue

The waterfront behind the Place du Marché


On the wooden overpass The colors of Port Grimaud

On the wooden overpass

The colors of Port Grimaud


Every single house is different in some way The waterfront behind the 'Rue de l'Octogone'

Every single house is different in some way

The waterfront behind the Rue de l'Octogone


By the Port Grimaud Yacht Club The waterfront behind the 'Rue de l'Île Longue'

By the Port Grimaud Yacht Club

The waterfront behind the Rue de l'Île Longue


One of the fourteen bridges The colorful houses along the 'Rue de la Tour'

One of the fourteen bridges

The colorful houses along the Rue de la Tour


As varied as the buildings, no two bridges are alike On the 'Rue de la Tour'

As varied as the buildings, no two bridges are alike

On the Rue de la Tour


Walking along the quai behind the 'Rue de l'Octogone' The color purple

Walking along the quai behind the Rue de l'Octogone

The color purple


The waterfront behind the 'Rue du Septentrion' The 'Pont Castellane'

The waterfront behind the Rue du Septentrion

The Pont Castellane


Boutiques and restaurants along the water Boat rental along the 'Quai des Fossés'

Boutiques and restaurants along the water

Boat rental along the Quai des Fossés


Grimaud, the Village

The medieval village of Grimaud is located some 5.5 kilometers (3.5 miles) west of Port Grimaud, on the Mediterranean side of the Massif des Maures, at an altitude of 100 meters (330 feet). The village features the ruins of an 11th Century castle that has been partially restored; from the castle, one can enjoy a wonderful view over the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Many of the village houses are 500 or even 600 years old, and almost all of them have been beautifully and tastefully restored. The streets are exceptionally clean; it's a pleasure to walk through Grimaud and somewhat of a surprise that there are so few tourists. The village is also a great starting point for exploring the entire area. If you need a place to stay in Grimaud, we know of none better than the Maison Jola. Give it a try; you won't be disappointed!


'Rue du Porche' 'Rue des Templiers' 'Rue du Baou'

Rue du Porche

Rue des Templiers

Rue du Baou


On the 'Rue de la Treille' Looking up to the 'Château de Grimaud'

On the Rue de la Treille

Looking up to the Château de Grimaud


The view across the Gulf of Saint-Tropez The village seen from the castle

The view across the Gulf of Saint-Tropez

The village seen from the castle


The cemetery and the 'Moulin de Saint Roch' On top of castle hill

The cemetery and the Moulin de Saint Roch

On top of castle hill


On the way down A gorgeous Bougainvillea The 'Maison Jola'

On the way down

A gorgeous Bougainvillea

The Maison Jola


Looking up the 'Rue du Four' The 'Place du Cros'

Looking up the Rue du Four

The Place du Cros


Having something to drink at 'Le Clem's' Where the 'Rue du Porche' meets the 'Boulevard des Alizés'

Having something to drink at Le Clem's

Where the Rue du Porche meets the Boulevard des Alizés


The photos on this page were all taken on August 30, 2015.




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