The historic streets of La Ponche lead directly to the Mediterranean and its small beach. Narrow streets descend between the old houses and emerge directly beside the small beach and rocky waterfront.

This relationship with the sea comes from La Ponche's history as the fishing quarter of Saint-Tropez. Fishing families lived close to their boats and the shoreline, long before the village developed into the international destination it is today.

The layout has changed relatively little. Buildings remain close to the water, passages run between the houses and the beach sits directly against the old quarter. There is no wide promenade separating the village from the Mediterranean.

That makes La Ponche quite different from many beaches around Saint-Tropez. It is small and simple, with people swimming from the shore or sitting along the waterfront rather than spending the day at an organised beach club.

The area is particularly easy to include while exploring Saint-Tropez on foot. From the Vieux Port, walk through the old town towards La Ponche and continue along the waterfront before returning through the surrounding streets.

Later in the day, the beach and waterfront also provide an unobstructed view across the Golfe de Saint-Tropez. Boats pass offshore while swimmers continue to use the small beach until evening.

La Ponche is therefore interesting not simply as a beach, but as one of the clearest places to see how closely the original village of Saint-Tropez was built around the Mediterranean.

Planning to spend a little longer at La Ponche?
Discover A Picnic from the Local Market →

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