Silver Cloud Itinerary 1529

We are booked on the Sept 30 itinerary, and curious about excursions recommended from St. Tropez. This is our first trip to the French Riviera as well as on SS and would like to partake of some art destinations as well as their famed beaches.

We are booked on the Sept 30 itinerary, and curious about excursions recommended from St. Tropez. This is our first trip to the French Riviera as well as on SS and would like to partake of some art destinations as well as their famed beaches.

Who are your favourite artists?

matisse, picasso, and the neo-impressionists. I was looking forward to visiting fondation Maeght, in St paul de Vence, but appears its too far away...

For a day trip, what would be a good driving itinerary.

Hi there,

Unluckily, you're in port from around 08:00 to 6pm. Of all the Cote D'azur places, St Tropez is the least accessible by public transport, and in the "season" with only narrow roads in and out traveling in and out (it is on a penisular) of the resort can find you in deep traffic jams. With a 6pm departure I consider any plan to make your own way for any distance with any "cutting it fine" on the way back a bit dangerous particularly as your next stop is Valletta.

You seem to like French Impressionists (a passion of mine as well) and St Tropez, was a mecca itself for various impressionists including Seurat, Cocteau etc.

There is however a wonderul art gallery you'd like in Nice. It's in an area of nice called Cimiez which is a very elegant, tree lined area just outside of the central bustle of Nice. If you were to think of this as a half day trip, and plan to be back on board by lunch-time, then you'd have enough time to spend the afternoon in St Trop for a wander, which is essentially all there is to do there anyway. St Tropez is a place to go to to look at other people and stare at their boats. When it says in your guide:

"The old part surrounding the harbor is the focal point. Here, narrow streets are packed between Quai Jean Jaurès, Place des Lices and what is left of the 16th-century citadel. " ............ it really means it.

There is in fact a regatta week during the time you're there:

http://www.ot-saint-tropez.com/en/events/eventsdetail.php?IDevent=80&IDcode=10#

(go to the home page and theres a good'ish guide to the resort.)

Chateau Suffren will give you the only possibility of culture within the resort and has occaisional art exhibitions. Here's details and a map.

http://www.ot-saint-tropez.com/en/vst/vv5.htm

So if a trip out is worth is then I suggest Le Musee Matisse in Nice is what to search for and your starter is at:

http://www.nicetourism.com/DL/html/voir/visite/vr/matisse.html

and

http://www.evene.fr/culture/lieux/musee-matisse-nice-63.php

and

http://www.aventurier.fr/fr/france/paca/06_dec_musee_matisse/index.shtml

If the funds allow then there is a helicopter service between St Tropez and Nice:

http://www.nicehelicopteres.com/

Or you might ask SS to make the arrangements, and perhaps share with someone else a bit cultured like you and me - in which case they'd hold the boat if you were late.

I cannot help you with the tours as they all seem a touch tame and it is a matter of which you fancy.

Hope this helps

Jeff

thanks, i've got my homework cut out for me now!

:)