Grimaud

Visit Grimaud, Provence

Grimaud (and the related coast town of Port Grimaud) are in the Var department of Provence and just a few kilometres inland from St Tropez. It 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.

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.

Explore Grimaud

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

In the centre of Grimaud be sure not to miss the Rue des Templiers with its ‘Maison des Templiers’, a 16th century Renaissance style building with three gothic arches which is now a listed building.

The chateau at Grimaud dates back to the 11th century, and the surrounding defensive walls date from the 13th century. Much of the chateau was destroyed in the Wars of Religion but we can still see the evocative ruins of the castle above the village.

There are a few small religious monuments and churches in Grimaud: the roman style Church of Saint Michel, the 11th century churhch of Notre Dame de la Questa, the 15th century Penitent’s Chapel and the 18th century St Roch’s chapel.

Other notable monuments include the St Roch Windmill built in the 17th century and restored to working order in 1990, and the Pont des Fees – a tiny aquaduct which brought water to the village in the 16th century.

There is also a small local Museum of Arts and Traditions in Grimaud.

Attractions nearby

A visit to the medieval village of Grimaud provides an interesting contrast with the new village of Port Grimaud on the coast below. It is possible to take ‘Le Petit Train’, a small tourist train that operates between Grimaud and nearby Port Grimaud. The trip takes about one hour and passes all the main sites. The train operates between the main entrance of Port Grimaud and Place Neuve in Grimaud village.

Photos of Grimaud (click any picture to start the gallery)

Tourist classifications for Grimaud: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 3*; Recommended detour town (plus beau detour);

Suggested places to visit near Grimaud, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Ramatuelle 10km; Sainte-Maxime 10km; Cavalaire-sur-Mer 11km; Roquebrune-sur-Argens 19km; Bormes-les-Mimosas 20km; Les-Arcs-sur-Argens 21km; Frejus 25km; Saint-Raphael 26km; Lorgues 28km; Thoronet Abbey 29km; Draguignan 30km; Flayosc 31km; Agay 32km; Bagnols-en-Foret 33km; Cap Esterel 33km; Massif de l'Esterel 35km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Grimaud

Grimaud tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Jardin Germaine l’Hardy-Denonain - remarkable garden (7km) : Domaine du Rayol - remarkable garden (14km) : Cathédrale Saint Léonce (Frejus) - religious monument (25km) : Eglise de St Raphaël (Saint-Raphael) - religious monument (26km) : Abbaye du Thoronet (Le Thoronet) - religious monument (26km) : Jardin d’oiseaux tropicaux - remarkable garden (28km) : Parc Saint Bernard - remarkable garden (36km) : Jardin du castel Sainte Claire - remarkable garden (36km) :

French version: see Grimaud (Francais)