Ramatuelle & St Tropez

  


 

In the 1920s Saint-Tropez attracted international stars from the world of fashion. During World War II, on August 15, 1944, it was the central site of a beach landing in Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of southern France. After the war it became the French existentialists' summer retreat. But it was in the 1950s — partly thanks to Brigitte Bardot — that Saint-Tropez received international recognition. Le gendarme de Saint-Tropez movie series made Saint-Tropez famous internationally.

During the building work on her new home at 'Sunset House', Winifred & Elisabeth Starr resolved to escape to the sea for a much needed rest and change of air. Elisabeth kept a studio close to the harbour in St. Tropez which was still very much a fishing village but was already changing. Winifred mentions in her books how she felt sorry for the locals who would stand and watch as the wealthy and rather loud visitors would arrive in their large cars in the evening. Her visit to the studio is described in 'Sunset House' and the building containing the studio still exists.

 

The studio in St. Tropez where Winifred & Elisabeth stayed

This photograph has been annotated in Winifred's writing to show the studio in St. Tropez
(Photo courtesy Michael Brett and the Brett family)

For many years Elisabeth had also rented a deserted coastguard station down on the coast in the Var, close to St. Tropez.  She assured Winifred that it was the perfect location where one could still find peace and solitude. It was primitive, no running water, no electric light - only candles & lanterns, camp beds and no proper road to approach by. They went, with a minimum of luggage, along the hair raising tracks, in Elisabeth's 'Baby Peugeot' with certain larger items being sent ahead to St. Tropez and later delivered to the cottages by fishing boat!

When they reached the bay Winifred was speechless..........'Below us lay a perfect little sand fringed bay flanked on one side by great grey fringed rocks between which grew clumps of umbrella pines, and on the other a huge rocky peninsular - almost an island. At the sea - end of the valley, built upon the sand dunes, was a long low line of whitewashed, red roofed, one story cottages - the coastguard station.' From 'Sunset House'.

The bay and the cottages are due south of Ramatuelle and best reached on foot via the cliff path from Plage de l'Escalet. Only one cottage is now intact, this is possibly the end cottage which, (as described in 'Sunset House'), served as the kitchen.

Map of the area

Click on the map or use the link 
at the bottom of the page to see area map

 Cottages & Gulf

View of the rear of the cottages and out to the Gulf

Cottages - almost derelict

 The row of cottages now derelict except for the end one

End cottage

View of the end cottage in quite good condition

The figure walking the dog in front of the cottages is believed to be Elisabeth Starr

The figure walking the dog in front of the cottages is believed to be Elisabeth Starr
(
From the archives of the Garde de la Côte)

An early photo of the buildings when used by the Douanes

An early photo of the buildings when used by the Douanes
(From the archives of the Garde de la Côte)

An early photo of the buildings when used by the Douanes

The bay with the buildings clearly visible in the background
(
From the archives of the Garde de la Côte)

Floor plan of the buildings

A plan of the buildings
(
From the archives of the Garde de la Côte)

Drawing by Elisabeth Starr from 31st May 1934

A drawing  of the bay by Elisabeth Starr on the top of a letter to Caroline Paget dated 31st May 1934
(From the Plas Newydd archives )

Ramatuelle Maps

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Pictures - Tony & Margaret Smith, archives of the Garde de la Côte, Plas Newydd archives, Michael Brett & the Brett Family