Tahiti Beach forms the northern tip of Pampelonne Bay, between Ramatuelle and Saint-Tropez. Ever since the filming of*And God… Created Woman* starring Brigitte Bardot in 1956, this stretch of sand has embodied the Saint-Tropez legend: wild dunes, discreet beach clubs, and an exclusive atmosphere.
How do you get there, what attractions are nearby, and what remains of the legend? Find all the answers just 20 km from our campsite on the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, between Grimaud and La Garde-Freinet.
This Topic in 5 Points
- The beach at Tahiti refers to the northern part of Pampelonne Bay, between Ramatuelle and Saint-Tropez.
- The legend began in 1956, when Roger Vadim filmed *And God… Created Woman* there with Brigitte Bardot.
- Club 55, founded in 1955 on Patch Boulevard, remains inextricably linked to this coastal legend.
- The Tahiti Beach Hotel, which opened in 1952, is the only hotel in the area built directly on the sand.
- According to the Var Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pampelonne Bay welcomes up to 30,000 visitors a day during the peak summer season.
The Myth of Tahiti’s Beach, from Brigitte Bardot to Club 55
The myth of Tahiti’s beaches began in 1956, when Roger Vadim filmed And God… Created Woman, starring Brigitte Bardot in the lead role.
The film introduced the world to this still-untouched sandbar and, almost overnight, launched Pampelonne’s glamorous reputation. The film crew made themselves at home in a nearby fisherman’s hut, which the Colmont family had purchased a year earlier; it would become Club 55, opening in 1955 on Boulevard Patch, just a few hundred meters from Tahiti Beach itself.
The film’s success then drew stars, royalty, and yachts to the bay, which traded its setting of pine trees and vineyards for that of an exclusive Riviera resort. In the 1960s, the area became a hotbed of naturism on the French Riviera, before Ramatuelle regulated the practice through a municipal ordinance.
Good to know: To get a feel for the atmosphere of the early days, it’s best to arrive early in the morning, before the midday crowds. The light is just grazing the dunes, and the beach clubs haven’t set out their first lounge chairs yet—an atmosphere much closer to the one Brigitte Bardot experienced in 1956.
Where is the beach in Tahiti, and how do you get there?
Tahiti Beach is located at the northern end of Pampelonne Bay, in the town of Ramatuelle, on the border with Saint-Tropez. It can be reached via Route de Tahiti, taking Route des Plages and then Route des Moulins from downtown. Signage is minimal: a GPS makes the trip much easier, especially during peak season.
Before hitting the road, here’s some practical information you should know:
- Address: Route de Tahiti, 83350 Ramatuelle.
- Directions: From Saint-Tropez, take the Route des Plages, then the Route des Moulins all the way to the end.
- Parking: Paid parking during peak season; free the rest of the year.
- Facilities: showers, restrooms, first-aid station, and mattress rentals during the season.
- Accessibility: Several access points have been provided for people with limited mobility.
Directions from the Miremer Campsite
Directions from the Miremer Campsite to Tahiti Beach
Beach Clubs and the Beach Atmosphere in Tahiti Today
Today, Tahiti Beach combines fine sand, umbrella pines, and a handful of chic establishments, foremost among them the Tahiti Beach Hotel, the only hotel in the area that has been built directly on the beachfront since 1952.
The restaurant, bar, and mattress rental service carry onthe jet-set spirit of the early days, though the atmosphere here is more subdued than that of the resorts south of Pampelonne.
This site is one of the most photographed stretches of coastline in the Var, nestled between the coves of the peninsula and the hilltop villages of the hinterland.
A note from the Miremer Campsite team: “Many of our guests combine a morning in Pampelonne with an afternoon strolling through the narrow streets of Grimaud or La Garde-Freinet. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the coastline without ever missing out on the charm of the hilltop villages of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez!”
After a day spent between legend and relaxation on the beach in Tahiti, where can you continue your Saint-Tropez getaway? Book your mobile home at Miremer Campsite, located between Grimaud and La Garde-Freinet, and enjoy two heated pools, a spa, and quick access to the coastline of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.
FAQ – Tahiti Beach
Where exactly is Tahiti Beach located?
Tahiti Beach is located at the northern end of Pampelonne Bay, in the town of Ramatuelle, on the border with Saint-Tropez. It can be reached via Route de Tahiti, taking Route des Plages and then Route des Moulins.
Why is the beach in Tahiti associated with Brigitte Bardot?
The beach in Tahiti owes its fame to the 1956 film*And God… Created Woman*, starring Brigitte Bardot. The film brought this wild stretch of Pampelonne into the spotlight and launched the bay’s glamorous reputation, which is still associated with the nearby Club 55.
Is Club 55 located on the beach in Tahiti?
No, Club 55 is located a little further south, on Patch Boulevard, on the same Pampelonne Bay. Opened in 1955, it nonetheless shares the same history—that of the film shoot that made Tahiti Beach famous the following year.
Is the beach in Tahiti a nudist beach?
Part of this area was one of the leading naturist destinations on the French Riviera in the 1960s. Today, the practice remains regulated by a municipal ordinance in Ramatuelle and is limited to specific, clearly defined areas of Pampelonne.
When is the best time to visit to avoid the crowds on Tahiti’s beaches?
To avoid the crowds on Tahiti Beach, it’s best to go early in the morning or during the off-season. In the middle of summer, Pampelonne Bay welcomes thousands of visitors every day, with the largest crowds around midday.
AI-generated image