Stretching 4.5 km, Pampelonne Beach borders the bay of the same name in the commune of Ramatuelle. From our Gulf of Saint-Tropez campsite 19.5 kilometers away, it can be reached in about thirty minutes by car. Which access point should you use? Where should you park the car? Which table should you book for lunch? Here are our answers, sector by sector, from Cap Pinet to Cap Camarat.
Key points to remember
- Pampelonne Beach unfolds 4.5 km of fine sand in the commune of Ramatuelle, from Cap Pinet to Cap Camarat.
- Each sector, from Tahiti in the north to Bonne Terrasse in the south, has its own access road from the Route des Plages.
- From Grimaud, the route passes through the Carrefour de la Foux, the D61, and then the D93.
- Between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM, the 5 public car parks require payment, starting from €0.60 per half hour.
- On the sand, 80% of the beach remains free and open to the public, while the rest hosts clubs and restaurants, including Tahiti Plage, Club 55, and L’Épi Plage.
The sectors of Pampelonne, from Cap Pinet to Cap Camarat
The Pampelonne Beach stretches between Cap Pinet to the north and Cap Camarat to the south, and is among the remarkable natural areas of the Var. According to the commune of Ramatuelle, the bay welcomes up to 30,000 people per day during the high season. To find your way around, remember that each sector is named after its access road. From north to south, the sectors follow one another as follows:
- Tahiti opens the bay at the foot of Cap Pinet, via the Route de Tahiti.
- Les Moulins and Les Tamaris follow, with their eponymous access paths.
- Patch occupies the center of the beach, at the end of Boulevard Patch.
- L’Épi extends the sand to the south, via the Chemin de l’Épi.
- Gros Vallat and Bonne Terrasse close the bay, facing Cap Camarat.
By municipal decree, 2 sections also welcome naturists: Gros Vallat and La Matarane, between Les Tamaris and Patch. Finally, the beach development plan, approved by state decree on December 15, 2015, protects the dunes: chestnut pale fencing and access to the sea every 100 m now structure the shoreline.
Access to Pampelonne Beach from Grimaud
By car, the route to Pampelonne passes through the Carrefour de la Foux, then follows the D61 towards Ramatuelle until the D93, known as the Route des Plages. This departmental road then runs along the bay and serves each sector via its own road: Route de Tahiti, Chemin des Tamaris, Boulevard Patch, Chemin de l’Épi, or Route de Bonne Terrasse. From our campsite at the gates of Grimaud, allow about thirty minutes. In summer, depart before 9:30 AM: La Foux then concentrates the traffic of the gulf.
To leave the car in the garage, 4 solutions take over:
- The ZOU! lines 876 and 877 connect Grimaud to Saint-Tropez, where line 875 reaches Boulevard Patch in 9 minutes, starting from €2.20.
- The Bateaux Verts cross the gulf from Port Grimaud to the old port of Saint-Tropez, from April to the end of September.
- From the Ramatuelle stadium, a free municipal shuttle serves the south of Pampelonne every 15 minutes in July and August.
- For cyclists, a 12.2 km cycle path connects Sainte-Maxime to Saint-Tropez via Port Grimaud, and bicycles park for free at the beach car parks.
Our advice: in July and August, leave the car at Port Grimaud and cross the gulf by boat to the old port. From the Saint-Tropez bus station, bus 875 then drops swimmers at Boulevard Patch, in the center of the beach. Before leaving, note the time of the last return bus: services become less frequent at the end of the day.
Pampelonne Car Parks: hours and rates
The 5 public car parks of Pampelonne (Tahiti, Tamaris, Patch, Gros-Vallat, and Bonne Terrasse) are managed by the commune of Ramatuelle. The commune only charges for the period from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, from April to early October: before 11:00 AM and after 5:00 PM, parking remains free. Rules to remember for parking:
- The first half hour remains free at all times.
- Each half hour costs from €0.60 between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
- Motorcycles, scooters, and bicycles park for free.
- Holders of a mobility inclusion card also benefit from free parking.
- An automatic terminal accepts payment, including contactless cards.
Our team advises: “In August, aim for the Patch car park before 10:00 AM: the central beach is just waking up and you can choose your spot on the sand in total peace.”
Tahiti, Club 55, L’Épi: 3 historic beach clubs
On Pampelonne Beach, about twenty clubs and restaurants occupy 20% of the shoreline, including 3 addresses born with the Tropezian legend.
Tahiti Plage and its film sets
In 1935, the filming of the movie “Le Chant des îles” left bamboo sets on site. Tahiti Plage moved in there in 1946, at the northern end of the bay, and thus opened the era of private beaches in Pampelonne.
Club 55, born from a film set canteen
Club 55 began as a simple canteen for the crew of “And God… Created Woman”, a film released in 1956 starring Brigitte Bardot. Its terrace is located in the Boulevard Patch sector.
L’Épi Plage, opened in 1960
In 1960, Jean Castel and Albert Debarge opened L’Épi Plage, the third historic address cited by the Ramatuelle tourist office.
A morning on the sands of Pampelonne, then a dip in our 2 heated pools upon your return: does this program tempt you? Book your stay at our campsite, Camping Miremer, and head for the Route des Plages right from breakfast.
Illustrative images generated by artificial intelligence
FAQ – Pampelonne Beach
Is Pampelonne Beach supervised?
Yes, 3 aid stations monitor Pampelonne Beach: Tamaris in the north, Patch in the center, and Gros Vallat in the south. The Patch station operates from April to early October, the other 2 during the height of summer. In July and August, lifeguards are on duty from 11:15 AM to 6:15 PM.
What is the water quality at Pampelonne?
The water quality at Pampelonne is rated “excellent” by the Ministry of Health across all control points in the bay, from Pinet to Bonne Terrasse. Swimmers therefore enjoy water that is monitored throughout the season, from the north to the south of the beach.
Is Pampelonne Beach free?
Yes, Pampelonne Beach is free on 80% of its surface. Clubs and restaurants occupy the remaining 20%, in accordance with the development plan. Towels, umbrellas, and coolers therefore find their place freely on the major part of the 4.5 km of sand.
What happened at Pampelonne on August 15, 1944?
On August 15, 1944, Pampelonne hosted one of the operations of the Provence landings. In the Alpha sector, the 3rd US Infantry Division and units of the 1st French Armored Division landed on the beaches of the Bay of Cavalaire and Pampelonne.
Do motorhomes have access to Pampelonne?
Yes, motorhomes have access to Pampelonne thanks to the municipal area located at 1727 Route de Bonne Terrasse, open all year round. Outside the paid period for beach car parks, this area applies a winter rate specific to motorhomes.