Brigitte Bardot is one of the figures most closely connected with the modern image of Saint-Tropez. Her relationship with the village became internationally known following the release of Roger Vadim's And God Created Woman (Et Dieu… créa la femme) in 1956.

The film was largely shot in and around Saint-Tropez and presented a Mediterranean setting that looked very different from the polished resorts already established elsewhere on the Côte d'Azur. Beaches, harbour scenes and village streets became part of the film's visual identity.

Bardot subsequently made Saint-Tropez part of her own life. Her presence attracted photographers, actors, musicians and other personalities, contributing to the growing international attention surrounding what had previously been a relatively small Provençal fishing village.

Her connection with cinema continued there too. Photographs taken during productions around Saint-Tropez document an era when film sets, celebrities and local life regularly crossed paths.

Today, this history can be explored at the Musée de la Gendarmerie et du Cinéma, located in the former gendarmerie building near the port. The museum covers filmmaking in Saint-Tropez and includes material connected with Bardot as well as the famous Gendarme de Saint-Tropez films starring Louis de Funès.

It provides useful context for understanding why cinema became such an important part of the identity of Saint-Tropez. Long before social media made destinations internationally recognisable overnight, films and photographs were already carrying images of the village around the world.

Where to Stay

Hôtel de Paris Saint-Tropez
Located opposite the former gendarmerie and only a short walk from the Vieux Port, it is particularly convenient for exploring the cinema museum and historic centre on foot.

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