Gassin is a commune located in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez (Var department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, France).
It’s a popular part of the French Riviera of the Mediterranean resorts of France.
Populated – at least since the Neolithic – the territory is located in the area of Massaliote influence, then under the domination of the Romans, who left traces of several rustic villas.
In the 19th century, the cork industry and sericulture did little to change the local economy. At the beginning of the 20th century, the installation of a torpedo factory had a lasting influence on the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, as the factory employed up to more than a thousand people.
Retaining its wine and forestry character, Gassin – a rural commune – saw its economy increasingly influenced, since the end of the 19th century, by tourism.
In the 21st century, Gassin has been home to numerous establishments, mainly high-end, linked to tourism, including a polo club and a golf course. It has a special welcome marked by nature, numerous activities and wine tourism.
It is located very near to the holiday destination of Saint-Tropez. Perched high on a rock, it is less than 4 km (2.5 mi) from the Mediterranean Sea. Many Tropezian tourists, attracted by a more affordable life, prefer to stay in Gassin and enjoy the same kind of “Cote d’Azur” life.
The passage of numerous artists and the filming linked to the popularity of the neighboring town of Saint-Tropez have produced numerous artistic creations with the theme of the village.
The city is a member of “The most beautiful villages of France” association.
Beaches
The town has three beaches that dot the Gassin coastline: Moune Beach, which hosts a sailing school and Treizain and Bouillabaisse Beaches, which Gassin shares with Saint-Tropez. A coastal path allows you to explore part of the Gassin seaside.
Main attractions
L’Androuno is one of the world’s narrowest streets. It measures 29 centimeters (11.41 inches) at its narrowest point.
The name derives from a Greek term for a “passage between two houses,” with a subtext for a place for men only, such as a hiding place or a latrine. The Provencal term is defined as an “alley,” a “cul-de-sac” or a “void that separates two houses,” with the same subtext.
The parish church of Gassin dates from the 16th century. It succeeded the Notre-Dame-de-la-Compassion Chapel as the parish church. Completed in 1557 or 1558, and consecrated in 1582, it is sometimes called Saint-Laurent Church out of confusion with the patron saint of the village.
The town is home to a type R680 blockhouse in the Foux district. This bunker was built by the German army during the Second World War with the aim of preventing an allied landing within the framework of the Mediterranean Wall (the landing of Provence took place partly in this sector: the Alpha force at the level of Cavalaire-sur-Mer and La Croix-Valmer and the Delta force in Sainte-Maxime, located on private land).
Covering almost 2,500 m2, the private garden of Marie-Thérèse L’Hardy-Halos, accessible free of charge, offers several hundred Mediterranean and Provençal plant species. Created by Germaine L’Hardy-Denonain in 1973, it received, in 2009, the official label “remarkable garden” from the Ministry of Culture. It is one of the places which participates in the Rendez-vous aux Jardins, organized each year by the Ministry of Communication and heritage days.
Shortest distances by car
From Paris: 8 hr 52 min (876 km) via A6 and A7
From Marseille: 1 hr 51 min (141 km) via A8
From Nice: 1 hr 41 min (111 km) via A8
From Toulouse: 5 hr 12 min (505 km) via A61 and A9
From Monaco: 1 hr 54 min (134 km) via A8
From Andorra: 6 hr 58 min (631 km) via A9
From Madrid: 12 hr 41 min (1,209 km) via A-2
From Moscow: 35 hr (3,198 km) via E30/M1
From Belgrade: 15 hr 15 min (1,437 km) via E70
From Istanbul: 26 hr (2,386 km) via E70
From Bern: 7 hr 13 min (719 km) via A7
Main information
Area: 24,74 km2
Population: 2 655
Coordinates: 43°13′47″N 6°35′09″E
Language: French
Currency: Euro
Visa: Schengen
Time: Central European UTC +1
See here France travel guide
See here Spain travel guide
See here Pyrenees travel guide
See here Andorra travel guide
