Port Grimaud Castle: Soaked in History

Besides reflecting the charms of a traditional French village and bewildering visitors with its uniqueness, Port Grimaud is also home to 11th century Grimaud Castlec, now classified as an historical monument. With its rich history and the late 13th century fortified walls, it stands proud overlooking the Gulf of Saint-Tropez (formerly known as Gulf of Grimaud), narrating stories of its glorious past to tourists that dare to take the short, yet steep, walk up to the top of the hill, only to be rewarded by the majestic views of the surrounding mountains and the valley unfolding below their feet.

Its Strategic Location

Grimaud Castle was a key observation point that many army generals and blue-blooded ones who wanted to control the Gulf of Saint Tropez, the coastal river, and the plain of Giscle took advantage of. From the Middle Ages and until the end of the French Revolution, one could see nothing but extremely fertile land and meadows that cultivated saffron, cereal, vegetables, and more. That aside, the area also had quarries, where marble (the veined emerald serpentine type we see adorning the openings of the castle) was extracted and used to create decorative pieces.

The Changes in Construction Over the Years

History : The chateau originally had a round tower at each of its 4 corners. However, it was reworked in the 15th century and then torn down some 200 years later by Richelieu, during the Religious Wars. The castle saw better days at around the mid-17th century, when it was partly rebuilt by Jean de Cossa, who added firing slits to the towers, underground, secret passages, the high walls we now see intact, 2 large cisterns, and the distinguishing serpentine doorways and windows that give character not only to the castle itself but the medieval village of Port Grimaud as a whole. After the end of the French Revolution, Grimaud Castle was abandoned. At that time, it had a church, three inner floors, and two or three powerful walls protecting it, the largest of which was believed to be around 6 meters high. The ground floor was used as a storage room at first (and then as a water tank) and it had an opening in the ceiling so one could have access to it. There are also remains of a kitchen and a sink, as well as staircases.

Today, most part of the ruins are visible from the village and are surrounded by ramparts that serve as a lovely backdrop of the outdoor theater, where the phantasmagorical festival of Grimaldines-Music of the world takes place every summer, stressing the beauty of the once symbol of power for royalty and its important defensive role throughout the centuries.

I am James, a writer and blogger.