Grimaud

Information

Grimaud is a charming little medieval village situated on a hill in the Provencale countryside located in between La Garde Freinet, Sainte Maxime and Saint Tropez. The village has the setting of Les Massive des Maures hills, and is in the middle of the Golphe de Saint Tropez. Grimaud is famous for restaurants and the Micheliun Guide mentions; Les Santons, La Bretonnière, Hostellerie du Coteau Fleuri, and Athénopolis.

With the striking castle and other beautiful historic sites Grimaus is a beautiful provencale village in the Var South of France (83). There is a huge selection of restaurants in Grimaud many which come highly recommended. The Coteau Fleuri is particularly good. In Grimaud you can enjoy tennis, golf, horse trecking, diving and fishing.

History

The village of Grimaud comes from the name Grimaldi family who are the rulers of Monaco. Grimaud’s history is long, and dates back to the Roman times. The Romans liked the situation as it was perched on a great hill and could park their boats in the port for Sambarcis where Port Grimaud is now. Grimaud was a strategic point which could hold any invaders who came from the Maures mountains or from the sea. Grimaud history goes further and prehistoric traces can be found close to the village: 2 menhirs at the Couzes farm.

Until the 17th Century the Castle of Grimaud commanded the whole Gulf and was called “Gulf of Grimaud”. The expansion of the village made the inhabitants move out of the precinct of the castle, and the present village was on the Saint Tropez side with three churches: Notre Dame de la Queste (11th Century), the Penitents’ Chapel (15th Century), the St. Roch’s Chapel (18th Century). In the 17^th Century water problems were solved by constructing the Pont des Fées which made it possible to conduct water from a hill at a distance of 3 kilometers to the village.

Top 5 Things to See

-Views from Grimaud Castle ruins to the sea
-The huge flea market of Jaz de Robert
-Market day in the the medieval village
-Grimaud Fairy Bridge
-Hostellerie du Coteau Fleuri Gastronomic Restaurant

Weather

How to Get Here

By Road you come off the A8 ideally at Le Luc and head south towards La Garde Freinet and continue through the forest until you hit Grimaud; it shouldn't take you more than fourty minutes. If you are coming fron Nice you might come off the A8 at Le Muy and drive down the brand new road to Sainte Maxime. When you hit the sea follow the road and come off at Port Grimaud. From there you head inland to Grimaud. Nice airport is about 1/4 hours and Toulon Hyeres Airport is 40 minutes. There are taxis in Grimaud as well as a helicopter station.

Beaches

Probably the closest beaches if you are staying or live in Grimaud are the beaches at Port Grimaud. Often sheltered as they are in the middle of the Golphe and therefore good if you are looking for that Saint Tropez tan. On windy days it is a great spot for kite boarders and fun boarders.

There is the Beauvallon beach club if you are looking for more of a pampering, and the resort has just been re-built and completed so it is worth a visit.