La Pinede Plage

At the heart of St Tropez peninsula, on the beach of Gigaro, nestled in the pine woods, the hotel la Pinède Plage provides a unique spot, right on the beach, with its discreet and undeniable charm, wide open sea…Enjoy a Mediterranean, cosy and modern lifestyle…the right place for couple or family holidays by the sea…

La Pinède Plage provides outstanding facilities for unforgettable vacations: freshly renovated rooms, a sea-facing bar and restaurant, an out-door heated pool overlooking the sea, a tennis court, watersports , and walking distance, the Château de Valmer Spa.

The story of a family
“Once upon a time in Provence…”
This is the story of Château de Valmer and La Pinède Plage, two intimately linked hotel establishments: geographically as they are only 500 metres apart, and also because they have both belonged to the same family for more than 60 years.

The story of Château de Valmer and La Pinède Plage begins in 1949 Ideally located by the sea, Château de Valmer was an old mansion that was bought by the parents of the current owners who ran it as a family guest house. In the fifties, tourism was still in its infancy – there was no talk then of an “industry”.

In those days, in fact from the end of the 19th century, the Var coast was renowned as being “probably the most beautiful of our Mediterranean coastlines”. La Croix-Valmer epitomised the Côte d’Azur and a wealthy, discreet clientele frequented its upmarket hotels in winter as well as summer.

The beaches were coveted for that sandy blond colour and every sunny day sandcastles were made and destroyed by the sea.On the same estate, there was also a modest stopping point, La Pinède Plage tucked away in the pine forest right on Gigaro beach facing the Îles d’Or.

These islands have not moved. In the early days in 1952 two modest and isolated bungalows were built.Life was very pleasant in La Croix-Valmer. Time passed as gently as sand slips through the fingers.

In the seventies, La Pinède Plage was expanded, and Château de Valmer’s “annex” became a hotel in its own right, with 23 rooms that earned it a 2** hotel ranking.In 1986, sixteen years had gone by and La Pinède Plage 2** needed to be totally renovated and transformed.

A variety of water sports and other activities were offered to customers. The restaurant, bar and private beach were reorganised to create an autonomous site with a club spirit. All these innovations opened the door to the hotel obtaining its third star.

Always with an eye to making the place even more welcoming, the owners decided in 2007-2008 to re-arrange the reception area; make the ambiance in the lounges more cosy; and most importantly to extend and transform the magnificent terrace into an all-teak affair.

The result is a hotel that lives and breathes the sun, sea and carefree Mediterranean lifestyle. In 2010, La Pinède Plage obtained its fourth star.

This family-run business has always maintain and increase the quality of the services,for the guests well-being and to protect the environment and surrounding nature…this is what sets these two properties apart

Seaview Suite

Seaview Suite of 38m², which consists in one double room, one living room and one dressing. Located on ground floor with private terrace or on upper floor with private balcony. Bathroom with bath-tub and shower.

A chic, sophisticated and contemporary ambiance. In a minimalist style where fabrics, furniture and décor create a “seaside” spirit echoing the colours of the Mediterranean.

Deluxe sea view room

Double sea view rooms of 32m², located on ground floor with private terrace or on upper floor with private balcony. Bathroom with bath-tub and shower.

A chic, sophisticated and contemporary ambiance. In a minimalist style where fabrics, furniture and décor create a “seaside” spirit echoing the colours of the Mediterranean.

Déjeuner à La Pinède
The sea-facing restaurant La Pinède takes its inspiration from the mediterranean and Provence cuisine.

At lunch time, at the shade of pine trees or in the sunshine, enjoy a friendly service, and appreciate fresh salads , estate’s products , grilled meats, fish locally caught…In the afternoons, taste light , casual dishes …in between refreshing dives into the sea..or into the pool…

Dinner by La Pinède
For dinners, the large teak terrace softly lightened and facing the “iles d’Or” is the right place to savour the tasty and elegant chef’s cuisine … enjoy a warm , attentive service under the stars

The Bar
At the Bar, facing the beach and the iles d’or, relax on sun-loungers or deckchairs…Anytime appreciate home made cocktails, freshly squeezed fruits juices or large choice of local wines…at the shade of the pines trees

Salons and treatment cubicles
A stone’s throw from La Pinède Plage, in the heart of the Chateau De Valmer’s parkland, take advantage of 500 sqm of relaxation and well-being….A rare moment to escape and enjoy a blissful out-of-body experience in the expert hands of our beauticians.

Follow their advice when choosing from a wide range of procedures, including body treatments such as aromachology massages, with essential oils or aromatic wraps, the ultra-fresh almond Courbes Exquises, or body scrubs, and facials with names like the ‘secret of youth’, ‘divine secret’ and ‘secret of light’. Energising and personalised attention guaranteed.

Pools and park
At the heart of this five-hectare estate, the Château de Valmer Spa offers a pool-jacuzzi area without equal (not authorized to children under 18). More than a place of relaxation or a gym, it is an ode to relaxing mind and body the Provencal way.

In warm restful tones, the spa is a haven of peace and water features bathed in soft natural light. It opens onto an outside pool in the gardens and terraces and offering a five-star service

Hammam & sauna
In a soothing setting in the colours of Provence, discover the sensations of a typically Finnish-style sauna and a steam room. An elegant design of wood panelling and soft natural light has created a Zen ambiance.

Authentic and spacious, the Château de Valmer Spa offers a large area for physical and spiritual purification; relax and let the beneficial hot steam soak in to regenerate your skin cells.

Gym & Fitness
The gym offers all the comforts to be found with the latest, most effective equipment (Technogym, treadmills…). At your own pace or with a coach at a time that suits you, you can release all those muscular tensions, improve your posture and tone-up those abdominal and gluteal muscles.

Make the most of your stay at Château de Valmer to do your favourite exercise in a unique, bright environment with a view of the herb garden. Cycling on the flat or tackling those peaks on the gym’s bike is a perfect way to burn-up the calories!

In-House activities
Have a pleasant stay with us and keep fit… enjoy a large choice of free activities proposed by our two properties:

• at la Pinède plage, the private sandy beach , with sunbeds and umbrellas,
• outdoor pools,
• the Château de Valmer Spa, with an indoor heated pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, hammam, gym,
• the tennis court,
• water-sports: kayak, pédalo, paddle board,
• bikes,
• pétanque field.

Out-side activities
Discover our pleasant and magnificent region and take advantage of the following activities:

• Aquagym
• Golf courses
• Water sports
• Scuba diving and snorkelling
• Stud farm and horse riding
• Visiting the Rayol Canadel gardens
• Visiting local winery
• Visiting les îles d’Or
• Hiking with a guide
• Visiting perched villages

Our staff is always available for any requests or suggestions…La Vernatelle just outside La Croix-Valmer (16 positions including nine under cover), a 2.5 hectare complex with bunker, putting green, lessons and group courses for all levels. Open every day all year round.

La Croix-Valmer
quality of life in a protected environment

Nestled into a valley protected from the wind, La Croix-Valmer is a typical Provencal village in the very heart of the Saint-Tropez peninsula.

With its food stores, weekly market, shops, administrative and health services open all year round, its culture (music festival, concerts, village fetes) and sporting events, La Croix-Valmer is a lovely place to live. It is also very committed to sustainable development and protecting our environment.

The Gigaro area
Golden sands, headlands and coves to take your breath away

An ode to nature and an endless source of inspiration, like the Côte d’Azur was in the fifties for a discerning clientele in search of a genuine paradise, the Gigaro is a remarkable area. Covering more than 300 hectares of flora and fauna including 120 species of migratory birds, it is protected by the Conservatoire du Littoral.

Water quality here is exceptional wild bush with cicadas in their thousands, and a panorama of beaches, coves, headlands and bays, the sound of waves lapping at the shore in the background.

Cap Lardier, l’Escalet and the White House
Lost at the end of the Saint-Tropez peninsula this isolated place has everything you expect from an idyllic spot where only migratory birds dropped by to see the flowers in the distant past. There is nothing to do here but contemplate this wild Garden of Eden, a mosaic of landscapes and the heady fragrance of the maquis.

Too steep to bathe here, the headland invites meditation on the ephemeral nature of life and Nature’s beauty. The panorama is breathtaking and there are endless walks.

Saint-Tropez
On a par with a capital city, Saint-Tropez remains a favourite destination for the jet-set as evidenced by the gleaming yachts and luxury cars. In summer, the harbour is buzzing with activities and glamorous festivities.

Allow yourself to get caught up in the magic of this famous village with its tiny squares and alleyways, the old town, or La Ponche and its restaurants by the sea. Gradually get into the swing of those long Tropezian nights, partying into the early hours with the rest.

Ramatuelle
A lovely place with a central square called Ormeau, around which the village was built. It is known for its maze of winding streets, fountain, the weekly market, wrought iron campanile, its theatre and festivals. Ramatuelle is a typical Mediterranean village with an irresistible charm.

Ochre facades and pastel-colour shutters are adorned with jasmine, honeysuckle and bougainvillea. The countryside and vineyard are stunning, and then there are the famous Pampelonne beaches with their restaurants and private beaches.

Gassin
On a promontory at an altitude of 201m, Gassin is a Plus Beaux Villages de France (most beautiful) and today is a destination for culture and walking.

From its rocky outpost, the view extends all the way from the Gulf of Saint-Tropez to the snowy peaks of the Alps, and from Place des Barri offers an amazing perspective on the Îles d’Or – Port Cros, Bagaud, Levant and in the background Porquerolles.

Grimaud
Far from the bustle of the coastal plain, Grimaud on the hill exudes an air of calm reflection. From the stepped terraces comes the sound of laughter without disturbing the image of elegance and restraint.

The view from the medieval castle stretches uninterrupted for miles, and a maze of narrow streets interlace with passages, vaulted arches and flat-stone stairways. The Grimaldines welcome musicians from all over the world every year. An enchanting village with a mill and art galleries.

Le levant
The scenery begins the minute you set foot on the launch that will take you to the island of your choice. Le Levant, formerly Titan’s island, has an exceptional flora (giant yuccas, agaves, medlar trees, lemon trees and bamboo).

This private estate has its own town hall, post office, doctor, police station, etc. But it owes its reputation to the Héliopolis naturist village that allows people to live as they wish “in a spirit of mutual respect and tolerance” on this exceptional site.

Porquerolles
Magnificent Barbary palm trees welcome you as you land at the quay on Porquerolles. At the end of a semi-circular bay nestles a pretty Provencal village with a central square lined with shops and restaurants.

In summer, the sound of thousands of cicadas embraces the alleyways, like an audible bridge, on this island that was a wedding present to his young bride from François Fournier, a wealthy man who made his fortune in Mexico.

On one side are the famous beaches, on the other steep cliffs and rugged inlets. At the highest point is the Mas des Langoustiers which welcomes authors, writers and artists.

Port-Cros
The pearl of these islands, Port-Cros has been a National Park for 50 years, a status that applies underwater as well as on land which makes it unique in Europe. 4.5km in length and 2km wide, it is the highest and hilliest of the Îles d’Or.

The ruins of several forts (Vauban, L’Estissac, Moulin, L’Eminence) are testimony to their role in protecting the island. Scuba dive among the bream, red mullet, rascasses and, near the smaller Garbinière island, the rather timid groupers. We can only look; no fishing is allowed. We are here by invitation only.

Le Rayol Canadel
There are regions in the world that enjoy a similar climate to that of the Var coast: in China, in California, on Chile’s Pacific coast, in South Australia, Southern Africa and New Zealand.

Many plants share the same characteristics and it is these different species “between nature and culture” that the visitor-traveller discovers in this 20-hectare park belonging to the Conservatoire du Littoral. A Mediterranean garden like no other facing the Hyères islands and Massif des Maures.

Le haut Var
Winding roads wend their way through hills covered in vines, olives, oaks, arbutus bushes, brooms and lavender; perched villages on top of slopes covered in daffodils, rock roses and heathers; chapels, clock towers, museums, plains and woodlands… – welcome to the Haut-Var, a source of walks and numerous sites of interest.

Thoronet Abbey is a masterpiece of Roman art, or you can visit ‘Europe’s Grand Canyon’, the spectacular Gorges du Verdon.

Cannes
Cannes is not just famous for its world acclaimed Film Festival, but features all year round as one of the world’s major tourist destinations. The magnificent facades of luxury hotels and elegant mansions, heirs of the days when royal families lived here, line the Croisette on one side, the sandy beaches on the other.

Many other attractions await you: le Suquet, the shops on Rue Meynadier, Saint Pierre quay, the Forville market, and of course the lovely Îles de Lérins (Saint-Honorat and Sainte-Marguerite).

Nice
By the 19th century, the English had made the Baie des Anges their favourite winter resort, giving the world’s most famous promenade its name: Promenade des Anglais. Every day, walkers, joggers and rollerbladers rub shoulders as they weave their way between the famous blue chairs.

A convention centre, Nice is known for its culture, shops and carnival in February. The old town with its flower markets on Cours Saleya mirrors the good life of nearby Italy with its narrow streets, terraces and aromas of socca and olives filling the air.

Marseille
Winning the title ‘European Capital of Culture 2013’ led to a mini cultural revolution for Marseille-Provence, one they are still inviting us all to share. In all some 900 arts projects took place that year in the Phoenician city founded 2,600 years ago. It mobilised everyone to bring their region to life and “make from this mosaic a coherent tableau”.

Always worth a visit for the revamped old port with its squares, restaurants and theatres, for its history (La Canebière, the ferry-boat), its heroes, be they historic, literary or athletes, and the MuCEM (museum) a symbol of the new waterfront which drew 1.6 million visitors in its first year.

Website: www.pinedeplage.com

Rooms: 32

Price: from 345 EUR per night