It was the early 20th<\/sup>-century Post-Impressionists led by Paul Signac that first succumbed to the charms of this little port, nestled in a gulf that was naturally protected from the Mediterranean winds. Saint-Tropez long remained a secret shared only by those \u2018in the know\u2019, at a time when it was simply out of the question to disclose to the vulgum pecus<\/em> the existence of this village of die-hard fishermen who continued to resist the invader, and would indeed continue to do so... Until, that was, the village gained worldwide fame in 1956 thanks to a Vadim filmed starring BB. Saint-Tropez changed overnight to become Saint-Trop\u2019 \u2014 you know how the story goes. But for those who know how to keep things low-key, the peninsula still has plenty of unexpected gems to offer, including these three properties available to rent through BARNES.<\/p>\n Let's start our visit with Les Palmiers \u2014 a family-friendly paradise just a stone\u2019s throw away from the Bouillabaisse beach, the old village of Saint-Tropez and Pampelonne. Tucked away on an enclosed and secure estate, this new 6-bedroom villa is the ultimate holiday destination, not least owing to the single-storey self-contained wing opening onto the garden, which would be perfect should you need to do a bit of work while you\u2019re there:<\/p>\n