Port Grimaud, a lakeside town from the 20th century e built by architect François Spoerry, who wanted a waterfront home with room for his boat. Located in the Var region, in the commune of Grimaud on the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, the town was built in 1966 and completed in the early 2000s. Port Grimaud's reputation is undoubtedly founded on the fact that the houses are accessible from both land and sea. The village's winding lanes are lined with houses of all sizes and colors. The village is also home to numerous shops.
In 2001, Port Grimaud was awarded the Heritage of the 20th Century label, with its harmonious proportion of greenery (33%), buildings (25%) and water (42%). Like the city of Venice, you can get around Port Grimaud by boat. On a total surface area of 90 hectares, there are 2,400 homes (including 1,100 detached houses), 2,000 boat spaces, 7 km of canals and 12 km of quays. Every year, 500,000 visitors flock to the lakeside city. As the city grew, three neighborhoods were naturally created: Port Grimaud I, Port Grimaud II and Port Grimaud III, managed by three separate, autonomous associations syndicales. These private condominiums are managed autonomously, ensuring their upkeep and preservation. Today, Port Grimaud is open to visitors, but the quays remain private and vehicles are forbidden to respect the well-being of the inhabitants, as well as the ecological management of the town, which is very important for the Venice of Provence. In addition to its well-known marina, Port Grimaud also boasts a wealth of historical treasures.
Places to visit
The Church of Saint-François d'Assise in Port-Grimaud draws its inspiration from the churches of Sainte-Marie de la Mer in the Camargue and Martigues. The founder of Port Grimaud is buried here. Although privately owned, the waterfront is part of the public maritime domain and has been granted to the three syndicates by the commune of Grimaud until 2025.
The lakeside city itself is a must-see architectural ensemble, thanks to its shape and originality between land and sea.
Recent construction
It was Mulhouse architect François Spoerry (1912-1999) who decided to build Port Grimaud on the model of Mediterranean heritage, wishing to blend the Provencal art of living with modern construction. Construction began on June 14, 1966, giving his name to the Place du 14 juin. He had spotted this area in 1962, which was popular with hunters, but very marshy, making any real-estate project difficult and the bottom impossible to navigate.
