A short distance away from Saint Tropez is where you will find the picturesque commune of Grimaud, a Medieval perched village on the Provençal hillside. Despite its apparent low profile, the small town has clearly nothing to envy to its famous neighbor. Founded in 1119 by the Grimaldi family who are currently ruling over Monaco, Grimaud is actually considered the richest village in the area, and home to some of the wealthier people on the planet. It is also in Grimaud that resides a true culinary institution: Le Restaurant Les Santons owned by the Girard family.
The modest grill bought by Claude and Yvonne Girard in 1962 quickly became a celebrated dining establishment recognized by the most prestigious gastronomic guides. Over the years, the Maitre Cuisiner and chef owner Claude Girard developed an authentic but sophisticated take on Provençal cuisine with renouned dishes like Sisteron lamb with wild thyme, truffles from the Haut Var with Champagne, or creamy blue lobster risotto. His wide recognition within the industry have attracted many talented chefs such as Jean-Pierre Jacob (Le Bateau Ivre), Jean Marc Banzo (Le Clos de la Violette) or Philippe Da Silva (Les Georges de Pennafort), who all wanted to be trained by the master.
Les Santons is also a very comfortable place to dine. Stéphanie Girard, the daughter of the founders, has created a warm and cheery decor by combining Provençal tradition with a touch of modernity. She is also the face of the establishment and will warmly welcome you with her mom Yvonne as you pass the door. Don't be surprised to recognize some familiar faces here. The restaurant is a hotspot for celebrities, political figures and other well heeled tourists in search of a quiet and gourmet place.
During our visit to the Restaurant les Santons we tried some of these acclaimed dishes and were quite thrilled with them.
During our visit to the Restaurant les Santons we tried some of these acclaimed dishes and were quite thrilled with them.
Mise en bouche: crème de lentilles (Cream of lentil soup).
Starter: Le foie gras de canard maison et sa brioche fraîche toastée - 33€
Starter: Warm Brittany blue lobster salad with a fresh herbs dressing (La salade de Homard bleu tiède à la vinaigrette d’herbes fraîches) - 62€
Starter: Vegetable stew from Provence (Legumes de la Provence) - 19€
Entree: Roasted saddle of lamb with wild thyme and served with a thin Ratatouille pie (La selle d'agneau des Hautes Alpes rôties au Thym sauvage servie avec une tarte fine à la Ratatouille)- 43€
Entree: La Bourride des Santons - 55€
The desert part was as delightful as the rest. We took two specialties of the house: The meringue and vanilla ice cream napped with a warm chocolate sauce and the chocolate souffle (They can also prepare you a Grand Marnier souffle if you ask). Both were equally decadently delicious.
To rest after such a tasty feast, Les Santons offers a cozy and comfortable lounge where guests can enjoy their coffee and mignardises as well as a glass of liquor. The lounge also displays a beautiful collection of dressed santons, a Provençal figurine representing a traditional character that was typically part of a Provençal village of the 19th century. As you have probably already guessed, the restaurant has been named after the famous figurine.
We had a very good culinary experience at Restaurant Les Santons. Although the bill did add up rather quickly, the meal was totally worth it. If you are on a budget, two fixed price menus are also available. (See the "For more information" section). Our final recommendation is that should you visit the Saint Tropez area, Les Santons is definitely worth the extra mile.
Mignardises.
Meringue and vanilla ice cream napped with a warm chocolate sauce (La meringue glacée à la vanille et chocolat chaud) - 16€.
Chocolate souffle (Le soufflé au chocolat) - 18€
Dessert cart (Le table de desserts) - 14€
The lounge will greet you for a coffee or a glass of Cognac after your meal.
After such a marvelous lunch, a walk in the village is quasi necessary. Grimaud's perched location gives it a marvelous view of the surrounding hills and the Golfe de St Tropez which is a treat for the eye, especially on a clear day. The interior of the village is beautifully restored without being overdone, and some houses from the 15th and 16th century are still there. The village is large enough to offer a good number of streets for wandering and exploring, including some Medieval-narrow and some low vaulted passages.
The key site of Grimaud is the imposing ruins of its 11th-century chateau, that peacefully overlooks the beautiful Golfe de St Tropez, which once was called the Golfe de Grimaud. The castle was built in the beginning of the 11th century, and then successively enlarged and enhanced over the centuries, by the different ruling families. After the French revolution and the end of monarchy in 1799, the castle was abandoned and fell into ruin. The rebirth will come in 1928, when the castle was listed as a historic monument. Since 1990, some restoration projects are also undergoing. Currently owned by Le comte de Senard, the ramparts are used from mid July to mid August as the backdrop of an outdoor theater for Le festival des Grimaldines, a world music festival.
To rest after such a tasty feast, Les Santons offers a cozy and comfortable lounge where guests can enjoy their coffee and mignardises as well as a glass of liquor. The lounge also displays a beautiful collection of dressed santons, a Provençal figurine representing a traditional character that was typically part of a Provençal village of the 19th century. As you have probably already guessed, the restaurant has been named after the famous figurine.
We had a very good culinary experience at Restaurant Les Santons. Although the bill did add up rather quickly, the meal was totally worth it. If you are on a budget, two fixed price menus are also available. (See the "For more information" section). Our final recommendation is that should you visit the Saint Tropez area, Les Santons is definitely worth the extra mile.
Mignardises.
Meringue and vanilla ice cream napped with a warm chocolate sauce (La meringue glacée à la vanille et chocolat chaud) - 16€.
Chocolate souffle (Le soufflé au chocolat) - 18€
Dessert cart (Le table de desserts) - 14€
The lounge will greet you for a coffee or a glass of Cognac after your meal.
The key site of Grimaud is the imposing ruins of its 11th-century chateau, that peacefully overlooks the beautiful Golfe de St Tropez, which once was called the Golfe de Grimaud. The castle was built in the beginning of the 11th century, and then successively enlarged and enhanced over the centuries, by the different ruling families. After the French revolution and the end of monarchy in 1799, the castle was abandoned and fell into ruin. The rebirth will come in 1928, when the castle was listed as a historic monument. Since 1990, some restoration projects are also undergoing. Currently owned by Le comte de Senard, the ramparts are used from mid July to mid August as the backdrop of an outdoor theater for Le festival des Grimaldines, a world music festival.
One of the many old fountains present around the village
For more information
Restaurant Les Santons
Open everyday except monday and tuesday on the low season. Closed annualy from November 12 to December 15.
3 RD 558
83310 Grimaud
Tel: +33 (0)4 94 43 21 02
Website and email
A la carte and 2 Menus (€35 and €58) - Our bill for 4 persons was €740 which included 3 services, wine and coffee. Due to its intimate size, it is recommended to make a reservation, especially during the high season.
Village of Grimaud
The Grimaud Tourism Office website will give you plenty of information on current activities, festivals as well as monuments to see.
Website
Interactive map
Check out our interactive map of Provence to see where I took all the pictures featured in this article.
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