Grimaud is a beautiful fortified hilltop village in the Var, overlooking the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Perched above the coastline, the village preserves its medieval layout of narrow streets, stone houses, and quiet squares that climb toward the ruins of its castle.

The village takes its name from the Grimaldi family, whose influence shaped much of the region’s history. In 973, the Genoese knight Gibelin de Grimaldi received the local fief after helping drive the Saracens out of Provence. The 11th-century castle, which dominates the hill above the village, once served as a strategic lookout point over the coast. It was later reduced to ruins under the orders of Cardinal Richelieu, partly as punishment for the town’s Protestant sympathies.

Walking through Grimaud in the Var department reveals traces of this long history. The Rue des Templiers, the village’s oldest street, is lined with arcades that could once be closed during attacks. Nearby stands the Romanesque Church of Saint-Michel, built in the 12th century.

From the castle ruins and upper streets, visitors enjoy sweeping views across vineyards and forests toward the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Despite its proximity to one of the busiest parts of the Riviera, Grimaud retains the quiet charm of a traditional Provençal village.

👉 Local tip: Walk up to the castle ruins near sunset. The view over the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and the surrounding vineyards is one of the most beautiful panoramas on the Var coast.