Discover the Beautiful Village of Gassin France

Are you wanting to escape to a quiet village, but still be very close to a popular beach destination in the south of France? Let me introduce you to the beautiful village of Gassin France.

Gassin is nothing but old winding streets and ancient houses brimming with beautiful flowers. And, nothing but incredible panoramic views. Those views include the nearby hotspot of St Tropez.

I stayed two nights in Gassin, which is one of the most serene and beautiful places I’ve ever visited. And, now I get to share this unmissable gem of the south of France with you!

In this article, you will get all the details from the location, history, things to do, and where to stay and eat.

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Where is Gassin France

blue shutters, yellow building with flowers in gassin france

This hidden gem of France is located in the Var department, in the highly sought-after Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.

Gassin is a hilltop village, perched high up on a rock. It sits in the middle of the Saint Tropez peninsula less than 4 km from the sea.

Gassin to St Tropez is only 8km, making this the ideal village to stay in if you want to avoid the crowds and high prices of Saint Tropez.

History of Gassin, France

stone village wall with cobblestone street with view to water in gassin france

Gassin’s history dates back to Roman times. It became a fortified village at the end of the 15th century when it was considered an important centre of commerce and was located along the pilgrimage route to St. Jacques de Compostelle.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, this pretty village caught the eye of travellers and became a popular escape for artists, writers, and other holidaymakers looking for a tranquil escape to a beautiful place. That’s when it experienced most of its development and more than doubled in size.

Today, this beautiful village remains the hidden gem of the south of France – a pretty village that offers a peaceful escape.

Gassin is known as Les Plus Beaux Villages de France

Les Plus Beaux Villages de France is a prestigious title awarded to the most beautiful villages in France. There are only 150 villages that hold this special title, and Gassin is one of them.

To be considered Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, the village needs to have a maximum population size of 2,000 inhabitants and have at least 2 monuments of historical significance, and yes, of course, be beautiful. 

9 Things to Do in Gassin France

1. Gaze upon the panoramic views

pink sunset against green mountain and valley in  village of Gassin France
Gassin Village views in the early morning

From its rocky summit, at an altitude of 200 metres, Gassin provides the most magnificent views of the coastline of the Gulf of St. Tropez, including the towns of La Croix, Valmer, Grimaud, St. Maxime and Les Issambres.

In the other direction, are the views of Iles D’Or over to the Maures mountains and the snowy peaks of the Alps. 

2. Stroll the pretty streets

As you wander the pristine streets you’ll notice the names of the streets are symbols that reflect the history of this village.

The Passage of the Watchtower, the Door of Saracens, the Rue du Fort, and the Passage of the Knights Templar are all references to the village’s past.

Meander through the maze of the winding streets, knowing you can never really get lost. Only if you count getting lost in its sheer beauty. 

3. Admire the ancient homes

Gassin is just one of those hilltop villages in France that you daydream about living there one day. It’s a village where more locals live than tourists can stay. That means it’s authentic and absolutely charming.   

Most of the historic buildings are built in serpentine or basalt from the local quarries.

From the doors to the shutters, or even the stucco buildings – it’s a kaleidoscope of pretty pastel colours. Creamy whites, pale yellows, and soft pinks, oranges and blues all blended together. And, every window sill is brimming with flowers.

4. Walk down the smallest street

Walk down the smallest street in the world. The Androuno street measures only 29 cm wide at its narrowest level.

Can you squeeze through? It’s easier than it looks.

5. Wander through a secret garden

stone steps with red flowers in gassin
Gassin Plus Beau Village de France

Visit the very tranquil botanical garden called L’Hardy-Denonain showcasing plants native to the Provence region.

Don’t let the tiny size fool you. At barely 2500 m², it is incredibly romantic to wander through the tiny pathways. And, it’s free!

How to find this secret garden: go to Place deï Barri (across from Le Micocoulier restaurant) and go down a few steps until you see a pretty wrought iron gate. Viola!

6. Pop into some churches

Whether you love to visit churches while holidaying in Europe or not, it’s always fun to pop in and admire the details and appreciate the rich history it provides. Two churches to visit are:

  • Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption chapel, built at the end of the 11th century and later rebuilt in the 16th century. It houses statues of the Madonna and Child and Christ from the 17th century and an 18th-century bell
  • The Romanesque chapel of Our Lady of Consolation is in the midst of a wooded area and served as a parish until the mid-16th century

7. Visit the local shops

Truth be told, there are about 3 shops in Gassin. Quality vs quantity, right?

Worth noting is the oldest art gallery in the area, Galerie deï Barri, an amazing home decor shop called Maison du Village, and there’s a wine shop and jam shop. That’s it! All three are worth a visit.

8. Catch the sunrise and sunset

yellow sunrise over mountains in beautiful villages near st tropez
Village de Gassin sunset views

Everyone gathers at dawn and dusk along the fortified wall and terrace to watch the mesmerizing sunrises and sunsets. You have uninterrupted views of the sea in the distance and small villages along with mountains.

9. Photo Op in front of Les Murs Vegetaux

A recent addition (after my visit here), was the creation and installation of a wall of plants. Just when you think that Gassin couldn’t get any prettier, they do this!

It will grow over time and add to the abundance of plants and flowers you can already find here.

Gassin Restaurants

Dining out in Gassin is pretty incredible. Terraces are set up along the fortified wall on Place deï Barri where you can admire the uninterrupted panoramic views.

Reservations are required (even in non-peak season) as many locals coming from other beautiful villages near St Tropez come to dine at a Gassin restaurant. Getting a coveted spot on the terrace might prove to be difficult.

Here are the top-rated Gassin restaurants that I dined at:

  1. Le Pescadou – specializing in seafood (and a couple of vegetarian dishes) with lovely terraced seating, amazing plate presentation and great-tasting food makes this my top pick for dinner
  2. Au Vieux Gassin – if you are looking for something a bit more casual or a great lunch spot feast on this Mediterranean menu that is more family-friendly of the restaurant choices, and still offers terraced seating next to the above restaurant
  3. Les Sarments – think typical Provence garden and this is the restaurant to go to serving classic French cuisine in a secluded terrace dining

Gassin Hotels

loft apartment with bed sofa in gassin france
La Suite de la Maison du Village, Gassin, France

There are no Gassin hotels in this village. I stayed at La Suite de la Maison du Village, a 1-bedroom loft apartment with a small Juliet balcony with an amazing view, which I highly recommend. Click here to check availability and pricing.

Perfect for a solo or a couple’s stay, this modern loft is absolutely perfect. The industrial-styled apartment sits above an interior design shop called Maison du Village. Some of those cool pieces for sale are showcased throughout this small space. Aside from the décor being magazine-worthy, it’s the views from the balcony that truly make this the place to stay when in Gassin. 

Another option for solo or couple travellers is Le Cabanon de Val, a cute guest room in a pool house steps from a pool. For larger groups, rent a Villa Nora, a 5-bedroom home with a pool and gardens.

If you want to be more central to Saint Tropez check out these places to stay.

  1. Oh, When the Saints – Saint Tropez. 1-bedroom with direct access to Bouillabaisse Beach on the Côte d’Azur coastline.
  2. Driftwood & Rose – near Saint Tropez. A 2-bedroom secluded house with a plunge pool is a relaxing getaway.
  3. Cassis & Champagne – Saint Tropez. A 2-bedroom relaxing house with only a twenty-minute walk from the port, and only four from Bouillabaisse Beach.

Beautiful Villages Near St Tropez

Gassin is located in the Var department of France in the beautiful Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region of southeastern France. This is the same region that is home to the beautiful Luberon villages, the town of Avignon and the vibrant city of Nice.

With so many beautiful places close by, there are endless day trip options. Here are the top places to visit near Gassin: 

  • La Croix Valmer – known for its 7 beautiful beaches (4km or 10-minute drive)
  • Saint Tropez – known as a lively resort town famous for its beaches, shopping and nightlife (8 km or 15-minute drive)
  • Ramatuelle – known for offering beautiful vista views of the Bay of Pampelonne (8-km or 12-minute drive)
  • Grimaud – a perched hilltop village with a castle that extends down to the seaside village of Port Grimaud or “French Venice” or “Mini Venice” as it was intentionally built to look just like Venice (11-km or 20-minute drive)
  • Sainte Maxime – known for its port, promenade and beaches (14-km or 25-minute drive)

As a Holidaymaker

Gassin definitely earns its title of one of the most beautiful villages in France. This under-the-radar village is a perfect weekend getaway destination. It won’t take long to explore the top sites, but well worth staying for a couple of days to explore the nearby popular towns.  

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