The Gulf of Saint-Tropez, between nature and the sea
One of the eight territories comprising Le Var stretches from La Croix-Valmer to Sainte-Maxime via a certain little port, long a favourite among the stars. With its picture-postcard scenery, the gulf gives priority to fabulous sandy beaches, lush vegetation and authentic little villages. Focus on Saint-Tropez, Sainte-Maxime and Grimaud…
54,990 people live around the gulf on a year-round basis. The soul of Saint-Tropez is omnipresent : a life-style which has become quite cultural, a port playing host to magnificent yachts, trendy boutiques… Not forgetting iconic addresses such as the Place des Lices. Nevertheless, the sea remains the most vital factor, whether one prefers the “Voiles Latines”, “Voiles de Saint-Tropez”, Giraglia Rolex Cup..., or simply languishing on one of the beaches around the Bay of Pampelonne. Here, you can go from blue to green quite easily. You just have to take the coastal path or venture into the Maures mountains to be convinced. Sainte-Maxime is the town with largest population around the gulf, and is thus one of the liveliest. La Nartelle, a paradise for fans of nautical activities, has nothing to envy of the beaches of Pampelonne. Golf, tennis, shopping..., a full array of distractions. From the beach of Beauvallon, an enclave on the commune of Grimaud prized by surfers, the view of the Citadelle of Saint-Tropez is unimpeded and compelling. No doubt the most persuasive argument also for buyers of properties in Grimaud.
“Saint-Tropez’s property market saw a real reaction to recent changes in France’s taxation policies,” says Caroline Simon of Saint-Tropez Home Finders. “And some buyers, though convinced of the qualities offered by this address in the Var, quickly postponed their acquisition plans. Today, the downward correction in prices, the level of mortgage rates, still very low, and certain exchange rates which are particularly enticing, including those of the dollar and Swiss franc, are providing new leverage. Rather than a bargain, fans of the peninsula are now searching for the “right price”.” While the Russians are thinner on the ground, north Europeans are showing much more interest in the 2 to 7 million euro bracket. A residence of 200 m2 to renovate in grounds of 1,500 m2 in the Sinopolis neighbourhood (admittedly further out but extremely generous in terms of panoramic sea views) ranges from 1.5 to 3 M €. A Provençal villa of 250 m2 in good condition, in grounds of 2,500 m2 in the famous “Parcs de Saint-Tropez”, costs close on 7 M €. Well-known for their substantial high-class properties, Le Capon and Le Pinet are still in demand. Just like Pampelonne, in immediate proximity to the sea. Wanting to treat themselves to more generous living space, fans of nature and seascapes head for La Quessine. Unlike buyers of apartments, ready to spend over 1 M € for a 2-bedroomed property of about 100 m2 at the very heart of Saint-Tropez.
“This revival of steady demand is closely linked to the revision of prices, which have now become coherent,” comments Hans Huygens of the BIRD agency, which covers the area from Grimaud to Les Issambres via Sainte-Maxime and Plan-de-la-Tour. In this sector, both wide and heterogeneous, he describes three types of buyers : families from northern Europe looking for holiday homes from 200 to 250 m2 with sea views and swimming pools, priced from 1 to 2 M € ; clients clearly preferring lovely holiday apartments from 100 to 150 m2 near all amenities, a rare commodity around the gulf ; and local buyers or young retirees drawn by the sun, capable of paying 300,000 to 600,000 € for 2- or 3-bedroomed apartments. Set back quite a distance from the sea, Plan-de-la-Tour naturally offers the advantage of more affordable prices and much larger grounds. Many clients then criticize Les Issambres for its lack of a real centre, very quiet winters and outdated buildings. On the other hand, traffic here flows more smoothly and there are beautiful unimpeded views. Le Sémaphore and the Boulevard des Horizons over towards Sainte-Maxime host high-end neighbourhoods, as do Grimaud, and especially Beauvallon-Bartole.
“This is one of the most residential and highly sought-after areas around the gulf,” says Alain Manzon of the Agence Alpha. “Built around an internationally renowned 18-hole golf-course, this select neighbourhood overlooks a sandy beach, halfway between Sainte-Maxime and Saint-Tropez. Only the Mediterranean separates it from the Citadelle and port of Saint-Tropez with its rose and ochre façades. Facing due south and offering prices two or three times lower than the summer hot-spot, it is extremely popular.” Comprised 90 % of houses, the domain blends authentic Provençal villas with smart contemporary homes. The lack of building plots sometimes obliges interested parties, often French or Belgian, to demolish existing homes in order to build a house to their taste. Built in 1970, a magnificent 6-bedroomed “mas” of 200 m2 to renovate, offering a sublime view of the gulf, bears a price-tag of 1,890,000 €. An investment that will be worth 2.5 M € when the work is complete. Buyers with budgets of 2 to 3 M € often find what they are looking for here. However, only buyers and sellers with rational approaches end up by sealing a deal.
