Hotel Ermitage Saint-Tropez

Saint-Tropez

Saint-Tropez, a legendary land, dear to painters, writers and artists from all walks of life, is famous throughout the world. Characterized by its pink, orange and red houses surrounding the coveted marina, it’s considered to be one of the most beautiful fishing villages in the Mediterranean.

Its 40 beaches, the Place des Lices where, under the plane trees, show business celebrities and local inhabitants come together for a traditional game of petanque, and the port invaded by the yachts of multi-millionaires are all idealized and living images of this Provencal city.

As a jet set capital since the 1950s, one comes here to see and be seen and especially to party all night and every night. The Club 55, the Byblos and themythical Papagayo Club set the rhythm both day and night for the most famousProvencal village in the world.

Visitors however, also come here to take romantic strolls through the maze of narrow winding streets and admire the ochre and burnt Sienna bell tower of the church, the citadel overlooking the village and the Ponche port with its yellow and ochre houses.

An arty hotel

Next to the Byblos and just a few steps from the Place des Lices, a large Provencal building has been dominating the village since 1929: The Ermitage Hotel. Purchased in 2009 by the celebrated designer and graffiti artist, André, it was renovated in a very discreet manner. The façade was totally preserved and is exactly as it was three quarters of a century ago. André transformed the site into a house of art, combining second hand furniture, 1960s lamps, vintage armchairs, metal chairs and collector photographs by Irina Ionesco and Terry Richardson. Today, decorator Laura Gonzalez has taken over and is constantly adding vintage furniture.

In the rooms, we find the same arty style, somewhere between the 50s and the 70s, but without any systematic pattern. Each room is different. André designed one suite and asked some of his creator friends to decorate the others. In this way, Australian designer Marc Newsom, photographer Jean Pigozzi, shoe stylist Christian Louboutin, Paul and Chloe Sevigny and many others added their own personal touches.

André’s creation, the all black lacquered Belvedere suite, sets the tone with a black and orange diamond patterned carpet, graffiti by the street artist himself and photographs of Saint Tropez stars of yesterday and today. In all the rooms, the carpet and the photos were chosen to match the color of the lacquered walls. Some of the images are soft, whereas others are more daring.

In the largest suite, located on the top floor of the hotel, the accent is on the 50s. Decorated with rare objects from all over Europe, nothing has been left to chance, including the black and white tiles in the bathroom. And to crown it all, the suite offers its guests an uninterrupted view of the bay of Saint Tropez.

In this building with its false air of a family boarding house, the head of “Mr. A», for André, is visible just about everywhere, from the skateboard décor to the painted parasol and including the ball design of the red room.

The vintage aspect of the hotel is even more present in the restaurant, whose atmosphere is that of an old fashioned French cabaret-restaurant-ballroom known as a guingette. As a reminder of its Provence location, the shiny traditional red tiles known as tommettes have been preserved.

After a game of petanque with the owner himself, it’s time to ensconce oneself on the illuminated, multi-colored terrace for a home cooked dinner including a tomato and mozzarella salad with chopped truffles, followed by sautéed mushrooms and lamb chops. And at night, a tour of the garden, while sipping on a home made mojito made with basil and pepper, and admiring the view of the entire village is highly recommended before venturing outside for an exciting and typically trendy Saint Tropez evening, knowing that total calm awaits the visitor afterwards at this atypical hotel and its retro charm.

There are no telephones in the rooms and therefore, no room service. Guests have to go downstairs to order, thus creating a permanent contact with the hotel’s personnel.