A medieval village under its castle, a lagoon town of canals on the gulf and vineyards in between – the walks, the wine bars and the family days out, in one guide.
In Grimaud now
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Weather
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Photo: Kirk Fisher/Adobe Stock
In this guide
Every table and hotel the MICHELIN inspectors have chosen in Grimaud – 6 more restaurants – on one map, with our own stories as we write them.
Start in the medieval village with the free Musée du Patrimoine, in a former olive-oil mill and cork works – tools, costumes and scenes of 19th-century life (Tuesday–Saturday 09:00–12:30 and 14:00–17:30).
Climb the lanes to the castle ruins, first mentioned in 1058, for the view over the plain and the gulf; the playground behind the castle is the reward for small legs.
Down to the lagoon town for a 20-minute ride round the canals on a solar-electric Coche d'eau, from the landing stage at the end of the Place du Marché, opposite the church – every day 10:00–18:00 until 31 October, adults €6, children 3–12 €4, no booking.
Along the coast road to the Plage des Cigales, a small sandy beach facing Saint-Tropez with a little lighthouse and a basket-handle footbridge on the jetty (no jumping from the bridge).
Cocktails on the rooftop terrace of the Bar Saint-Germain as the sun goes down over the gulf – every evening 18:00–midnight until 1 November, by reservation, from €30.
From the lower cemetery car park below the Moulin Saint-Roch, the 1.3 km waymarked loop down to the Pont des Fées and back up past the windmill – about 45 minutes on stony paths, no pushchairs.
Grimaud Aventure's Halloween afternoon: a sweet hunt along the courses, pumpkin decorating, games and a snack (13:30–17:30, €40, costume compulsory; register by WhatsApp on 07 71 80 48 54). Trainers and tied-back hair, as always.
The town's free Halloween escape game at the château, run by the Pôle Enfance et Jeunesse. Or, if you have booked, the Ranch La Mène's family Halloween evening from 18:00 – treasure hunt, mad-scientist show and dinner (adults €55, children up to 12 €35, costume compulsory).
Down to Port Grimaud 2 for the wine cellar-restaurant on the place François Spoerry: a weekly market menu of local, seasonal produce and a bottle chosen off the wall (Saturday 19:00–21:00).
Golf Up's Halloween Sunday: the Toptracer challenge on the range from 10:00 to 16:00 (€5 a player, surprise coloured balls in the machine), then the Halloween brunch at La Table des Oliviers at 11:00 or 13:00 (€29 adults, €12 children, drinks extra; booking advised).
Next door at number 37, ten-minute sessions on the 800-metre track – adults €25, children €20, two-seaters from age 4. It is open every day, but ring 04 94 56 00 12 for the day's hours.
The end of the afternoon on the family beach at the end of the avenue de la Mer, where toddlers have play equipment and the lagoon town is a few steps away.
✱ MICHELIN star · Bib Gourmand: good cooking at a fair price · ◆ selected in the Guide · € to €€€€: the Guide's own price bands, from «on a budget» to «spare no expense».
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Sunset and drinks
Where to drink
Sunset cocktails on the Château Rose rooftop, wine bars in the village and in Port Grimaud, and the estates below the Maures.
On the rooftop of the Château Rose, the landmark pink villa now turned luxury hotel, a panoramic terrace over the Gulf of Saint-Tropez – cocktails while the sun goes down, in a chic lounge mood. The 2026 season ends on 1 November.
Wine cellar and restaurant · Port Grimaud 2L'Équille
A wine shop inside a quiet restaurant on the pretty place François Spoerry: taste, choose, take a bottle home or drink it at the table with a market menu of local, seasonal produce that changes every week.
The village cooperative, founded by eight growers in January 1932 and now some 250 members on 950 hectares around the gulf – AOP Côtes de Provence cuvées including one named after the Pont des Fées.
A 130-year-old family vineyard, still run by the Castellans – the fifth and sixth generations – on 27 hectares of AOC Côtes de Provence slopes below the Massif des Maures.
Wine estate · Chemin des Lyons, between sky and seaClos des B
A 13.5-hectare domaine of mostly old vines on schist sand veined with quartz; the hour-long natural-wine introduction takes in all five cuvées and a wander through the vines.
The village's winter walk: the usual discovery circuit, brightened by citrus trees taking it easy in the mild Mediterranean climate – a good game for children is to spot every one.
Past The lanes and monuments of the village, Lemon and orange trees in gardens and against old walls
All year; the citrus fruit is mostly out in winter.
Billed as a family walk; public toilets and parking nearby.
Start: Grimaud tourist office, 679 Route Nationale
A heritage-and-flowers walk round the village, which is planted with thousands of flowers and climbers – at its most vivid when the bougainvillea blooms from May to July.
Past The flower-covered lanes of the old village, The history of Grimaud along the way
All year; the bougainvillea is usually in flower from May to July.
A short loop through a listed valley in the Massif des Maures – look out for Hermann's and European pond tortoises on the banks, and protected plants such as the tongue orchid.
Past Information panels on the wildlife, plants and landscape, The remains of the water intake and channel that fed the village's two water mills until the early 19th century, The Pont des Fées over the La Garde stream
All year, every day; free.
Billed as a family walk, but not suitable for pushchairs.
Start: Lower cemetery car park, below the Moulin Saint-Roch
From the hills to the sea: a one-way country walk from the medieval village, past vines, down to the lagoon town.
Past The footbridge over La Garde and the chemin du Pré Saint-Michel, The hamlet of Saint-Pons-les-Mûres, mentioned as early as the 11th century, The cycle path on the line of the old coastal railway from Saint-Raphaël to Toulon
All year, every day; free.
Suitable for all-terrain pushchairs; take care crossing the departmental road.
Start: Grimaud tourist office, 679 Route Nationale
A gentle loop through the vines and fields just below the village, with the stories behind its Provençal place names.
Past The chemin de l'Enclos and the medieval lieu-dit of La Castellane, A 19th-century family vault that looks like a chapel, A big meadow, often with horses, and a fine view of the village
All year; free.
Narrow pavement at the start; not suitable for pushchairs.
Start: In front of the Grimaud tourist office, 679 Route Nationale
A charming olive-lined valley in the Maures, where water mills and a windmill once made the village's flour.
Past The Pont des Fées, The valley of La Garde, where three water mills older than the 17th century once stood, An old olive grove and an 18th-century bastide
All year; free.
Stony, gravel and earth paths through woodland; not flagged as a family walk.
Sources: the Grimaud tourist office and the Golfe de Saint-Tropez tourist board, read 27 October 2026. Coastal paths close in rough seas – check before you set off.
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With kids
Grimaud for children
Halloween at the castle, in the trees and on the golf range, a boat round Port Grimaud's canals, karting, ponies and beaches facing Saint-Tropez.
A little playground in the shade of the oaks right behind the castle ruins – climbing wall, slide, swings and a play house – so the walk up to the château ends with a reward.
The ruined medieval castle on the town's coat of arms, listed as a Monument Historique and first mentioned in 1058 in a charter to the Abbey of Saint-Victor in Marseille. From the top you look out over the plain and the Gulf of Saint-Tropez – a perfect lookout, which is exactly why it was built here.
Canals, bridges and boats moored outside pastel houses: the tourist office calls Port Grimaud, inspired by Venice and Provence, the largest marina on the French Riviera. Children love spotting boats from the bridges, and it is easy walking on the flat.
A 20-minute ride round the canals of Port Grimaud on a solar-electric boat – the town seen from its best angle, and short enough for the smallest passengers.
Early April to the end of October; in October every day 10:00–18:00.
A small sandy beach facing Saint-Tropez, loved for its little lighthouse and the basket-handle footbridge out on the jetty – a postcard of the Côte d'Azur.
An 800-metre track that can be driven in both directions, with karts for children and adults, two-seaters from age 4, a handikart, timing on a big screen, a snack bar and games for children.
Open all year, every day; ring 04 94 56 00 12 for the day's hours.
More than 120 workshops on ten courses of rising difficulty, in the shade of a two-hectare pine wood – zip lines, nets and rope bridges for the whole family.
17 October–1 November 2026: every day 10:00–18:30, last departure 17:00.
Golf made playful: a practice range with Toptracer ball-tracking games, a synthetic-turf course open to all (about 1 hour 30) and a restaurant and bar-lounge – beginners welcome, so it works for children trying a club for the first time.
Open every day: October 09:00–18:00, November and December 09:00–17:00.
To do · Ages Pony on a lead rein 2–6; pony rides 5–11; horse rides from 12Ranch La Mène
Grimaud's own Wild West: rides into the Maures, a mini-farm with pigs, llamas and goats, trampolines and a bouncy castle, and a western-style saloon, the Grill du Ranch.
14 September 2026–3 January 2027: Tuesday–Sunday 09:00–12:00 and 14:00–17:00, closed Monday; ring ahead, days and hours can vary.
A 16th-century windmill on the hill above the village, abandoned in the early 20th century and given back its sails, roof and machinery by the Compagnons du Devoir – a good picnic stop with a view of the castle.
To do · Ages Children who can walk on rough groundPont des Fées
The 'Fairies' Bridge' is what remains of a 15th-century aqueduct that carried water from the Pan Caou spring over the La Garde stream to the village; the valley has been a listed site since 1924.
A former olive-oil mill and cork works now filled with tools, costumes and scenes of 19th-century village life – a short, free look at how people in Grimaud used to live and work.
October–December: Tuesday–Saturday 09:00–12:30 and 14:00–17:30; closed Sunday and Monday.
Four courses to find hidden control posts: 'Initiation' round the lower medieval lanes (1 km, about 1 hour), up to the castle (1.8 km, 1 hour 15), on to the Moulin Saint-Roch (2.7 km, 1 hour 30) and the full loop to the Pont des Fées (3.6 km, 2 hours 30).
Monsters and witches are expected at the castle: the town's children's and youth service turns the ruins into a Halloween escape game for little and big children.
The ranch's family Halloween night: a big treasure hunt with separate trails for children and adults, sweets handed out by the ranch's monsters, a mad scientist's show and dinner – plus a contest for the scariest costume.
A Halloween challenge on the range with surprise coloured balls in the machine – pink wins a free bucket, green three – and Titleist prizes, then brunch next door.
A small Provençal market in the medieval lanes – on the church square in winter, spreading to the place Vieille when the fine weather returns – with tapenade, anchoïade, olive oil, jam and honey, fruit and vegetables.
Every Thursday all year, 08:00–13:00; cancelled in bad weather.
Sources: the Grimaud tourist office's listings and events agenda, read 27 October 2026. Drive times from the town centre without traffic. Check seasons and ages with the place before you go.
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The atlas
Grimaud at a glance
Every restaurant, hotel, sight, beach and shop we know of – 237 places, each with its own page. Choose a quartier, or a kind of place.
Photo: Christian Müller/Adobe Stock
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The directory
Every place in Grimaud
237 places, each with its own page – the six nearest the centre of each kind are here; every one of them is in the directory, A to Z.
No. 1Port Grimaud – François Spoerry's lakeside town on the Gulf of Saint-TropezPort Grimaud on the Gulf of Saint-Tropez: how François Spoerry built a Provençal Venice from 1966, the church, the canals by water boat and what to know.Read 
No. 2Grimaud – the hilltop village above the Gulf of Saint-TropezEveryone knows the lagoon town of Port Grimaud. Fewer climb to the village that gave it its name: a ruined castle, a windmill and medieval lanes looking down over the gulf.Read 
