Rumbling bellies and engines in Saint Tropez

The normally stylish and peaceful Saint Tropez will be unrecognisable this weekend as the whole of the Mediterranean and packs of riders descend on the Saint Tropez

Harley Davidson Euro Festival

Yachts are out and motorbikes are in this weekend in the Golfe of Saint Tropez as the sixth edition of the Harley Davidson Euro Festival comes to town. Harley Davidson riders from all over the world are expected to ride into the region over the next few days as organisers put on an eclectic motorbiking event that guarantees something for everyone.

Check out some of the iconic brand’s newest models and even get a sneak peek at bikes that are yet to hit the shop floor. Visitors are welcome to try out the goods while beginners or first timers will enjoy the motorbike simulator which encourages people to have a go at riding the striking vehicles.

The jam packed weekend features live music on a stunning beachfront stage and the whole of Grimaud town will be buzzing with the sound of bikes and stalls selling motorbiking merchandise.

For more information about the festival, visit: harley-davidson.com.

Voiles Latines

Enter a world of Mediterranean tastes, sounds and sights at this weekend’s Voiles Latines where you can sample the delights of alluring Italian, Tunisian, Catalan, Spanish and Sardinian cultures.

Wander through a host of artwork stalls while listening to traditional Sardinian folk bands and other live music acts.

Out on the town’s azure waters, over 70 boats and teams will battle it out to win this year’s regatta.

For more information about the festival, visit: saint-tropez.fr, or call: 04 94 56 68 70.

Coupe des Dames

For the very first time, the Nautical Society of Saint Tropez is putting on a womens’ only regatta. Attending the three day event that will run from 11th to 13th May are some of the world’s most talented seawomen including Virginie Hériot, Florence Arthaud and Catherine Chabaud.

Watch them compete, battling against each other as well as the Mediterranean, from the shore with a cocktail in hand.

For more information regarding the event, visit: societe-nautique-saint-tropez.fr.

Coming up next week: Fête de la Bravade

If you thought Saint Tropez was just a catwalk for the rich and famous, the town’s traditional Fête de la Bravade will definitely change your mind.

The Bravade festival is seeped in religious and military history, and is a celebration of the bravery of generations of the Saint Tropez community who were forced to constantly defend their land and lives throughout the centuries as they came under attack from pirates, the Saracens and other nearby nations.

As well as being a nod to the courageous Saint Tropezians, the festival – celebrated between 16th and 18th May each year – gives the coastal town a chance to commemorate the saint who gave Saint Tropez it’s name: Saint Torpes. Caïus Silvius Torpetius (Torpes) was beheaded in 68AD because he refused to renounce Christianity, despite being gruesomely tortured. His headless corpse was sent out to sea in an old boat with a dog and a rooster, and his martyrdom is still celebrated to this day. Citizens make a lengthy pilgrimage to the Chapel of Saint Anne before honouring the relics of this patron saint.

Artillery and gunshots will roll out over the normally tranquil town and around 300 tonnes of gunpowder will be used during the three days of festivities that brings the entire town together in a celebration of heritage and ancestry.

Children will love this historical festival and the intricate costumes of participants but be warned, the gunshots and street battles are enough to shock the most cultured traveler.

Elsa Carpenter