wellness
Saint-Tropez Launches Family-Friendly Cycling Routes Along Flat Coastal Paths
Flat coastal paths and shaded park loops now draw local families to two-wheeled outings on summer weekends.
How we reported this
Saint-Tropez added two marked beginner cycling circuits this month that stay entirely on car-free paths inside Parc de la Moutte and along the western edge of Pampelonne beach. City crews finished painting the 4.8-kilometre green lane on 8 July.
The routes open as schools close for the long summer break and more residents look for low-cost ways to stay active outdoors. Local wellness groups have tracked rising demand for family exercise options since the municipal sports department launched its annual “Move Outside” campaign on 15 May.
Two routes that stay flat and shaded
One loop begins at the northern gate of Parc de la Moutte and circles the central meadow twice before returning to the same gate, a total of 2.3 kilometres with no slope steeper than 2 percent. The second route starts behind the market stalls on Place des Lices, follows the new green lane beside Boulevard Vasserot, and ends at the public bike racks near the Plage de Pampelonne lifeguard tower. Both paths are lit until 10 p.m. and pass public water fountains every kilometre.
The Saint-Tropez Office de Tourisme recorded 1,240 family bike-rental transactions in June, up from 890 the same month last year. Standard adult bikes rent for 12 euros per half day at the two stands operated by the tourism office near the Vieux Port. Children’s seats and helmets are included at no extra charge.
Practical steps for first-time riders
Parents can pick up a free paper map at the tourism office counter on Rue de la Poste or download the same map from the city website. The maps list exact distances, drinking-water points and the two repair stations installed last spring. Riders are asked to stay on the green lanes after 9 a.m. on Saturdays to avoid the weekly market crowds around Place des Lices.
Anyone planning a first ride this weekend can borrow a helmet at the Parc de la Moutte entrance kiosk between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. The kiosk also offers a short safety briefing that covers hand signals and how to yield to pedestrians on the shared sections of the Pampelonne path.