Christmas in Saint Tropez

Mise à jour le Vendredi, 09 Décembre 2011 10:25 Écrit par Administrator Jeudi, 01 Décembre 2011 00:00

Christmas is a wonderful season during which to visit the South of France as the days are generally warm and sunny and the festive cheer infectious. The celebrations tend to begin at the end of November, as towns and villages across the country string up their lights, bedeck their trees and dust off the street decorations.

Saint Tropez is no exception. Indeed, the glamorous fishing village in the Var department does ‘Christmas’ with as much elegance and sophistication as it does every other annual event. Noel, in St Trop, as the locals fondly called it, oozes class and authenticity.

This year those renting a luxury villa in Saint Tropez should dig out their festive hats for December 6^th, when the official opening of Saint Tropez’s Christmas market takes place on the Suffren Quay. The festivities will begin at 1830 when the Christmas lights are ceremoniously switched on.

The party will then move to the famous Places des Lices, a stone’s throw from many of our luxury villas Saint Tropez, where the inauguration of the ice rink will take place. The famous place is converted into a magical forest for the Christmas period and is a favourite amongst visitors who have decided to rent a villa in Saint Tropez over the festive period.

Another festive event not to be missed by those renting a luxury villa in Saint Tropez over Christmas is the Salon du Chocolat et des douceurs, also held in the Places des Lices between 17^th and 19^th December. Here you will find the traditional Provencal Christmas desert which features 13 fruits and nuts which symbolise Jesus and his 12 apostles.

For those families who have chosen to rent a villa in Saint Tropez this December, there is the annual opening of the Christmas train on December 17^th, a colourful antique locomotive which is sure to be a hit with kids and parents alike.

And even more exciting is on the 24^th, when Father Christmas – or Père Noel as he is known to millions of French-speaking children – arrives in Saint Tropez by boat at 18.30. The world’s most famous white-bearded man makes the trip to Saint-Tropez every year, and plays up to the Suffren Quay before jetting off on his important delivery round.