Grimaud

Grimaud (and Port Grimaud) are in the Var department of Provence, a few kilometres inland from St Tropez.

Grimaud is a picture postcard perched-village, with a cluster of perfect houses around the small simple church, and the ruined castle posed on the hilltop above.

Grimaud has a history dating back to the Gallo-Roman age and its strategic position meant that the castle of Grimaud dominated the whole area until the 17th century. Indeed the Gulf of St Tropez was called the Gulf of Grimaud until the end of the 19th century. Hard to believe really as you wander around the sleepy village that is Grimaud today.

Wandering through the village is a treat. The winding lanes are edged with vibrant bougainvillea and oleanders. The houses are a lovely warm-coloured stone with the traditional terracotta tiled roves of the Provence region.

Be sure not to miss the ‘Rue des Templiers' with its ‘Maison des Templiers' a 16th century Renaissance style building with three gothic arches. This is now a listed building along with the chateau. The chateau dates back to the 11th century and the walls around it to the 13th century. Much of the chateau was destroyed in the Wars of Religion.

Also to see in Grimaud

• The Churches of Grimaud with the St Michel's church built in Roman times, the 11th century Notre Dame de la Questa, the 15th century Penitent's Chapel and the 18th century St Roch's chapel
• The St Roch Windmill built in the 17th century and restored to working order in 1990
• The Pont des Fees – a tiny aquaduct which brought water to the village in the 16th century
• Museum of Arts and Traditions.

It is possible to take ‘Le Petit Train', ‘the Little Train' between Grimaud and nearby Port Grimaud. This trip takes about one hour on the little tourist train and drives round all the main sites. The train leaves from the main entrance of Port Grimaud to Grimaud (Place Neuve).