A new documentary is delving into why the rich and famous love to head to Saint-Tropez for their holidays.
Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck and Rebel Wilson are just some of the A-listers who spent part of their summer this year in the coastal town on the French Riviera, which has a billion-pound tourist industry.
And now, a Channel 5 programme called Playgrounds of the Rich and Famous is exploring the appeal of the exclusive celebrity haunt – showcasing the delights on offer, including €1million bottles of whisky, €52million vineyards and €300million yachts.
In the first of the six-part series, which airs tonight at 8pm, Saint-Tropez stalwart Dame Joan Collins revealed why the super rich love the ‘most famous village in the world’ as she dined at the renowned Club 55 on Pampelonne Beach.
A new documentary is delving into why the rich and famous love to head to Saint-Tropez for their holidays. Pictured, Kendall Jenner in Saint-Tropez in July
Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck and Rebel Wilson are just some of the A-listers who spent part of their summer this year in the coastal town on the French Riviera, which has a billion-pound tourist industry. Pictured, Cristiano Ronaldo, in St. Tropez in 2019, left, and Elton John in 2018
She said: ‘I think a lot of celebrities come to the beaches, particularly Club 55, because they’re left alone.
‘I’m a regular at Club 55 because it is a club, you see loads of friends, loads of people that you know, and the food is wonderful and the ambience, well it’s amazing.’
However, the actress admitted that the peace and quiet for celebrities could even be interrupted while enjoying Saint-Tropez as she recalled a lunch she attended with Johnny Depp.
She said: ‘I remember a few years ago that I was at lunch that a well known Hollywood producer gave, and one of his guests was Johnny Depp.
‘Because Johnny had just been doing Pirates of the Caribbean, he was a huge hit with all the kids so there was a line of all the kids… lining up to ask for Johnny Depp’s autograph.
‘He was so charming because he got up and he signed for everybody and that is pretty unusual,’ she added.
Elsewhere, model Victoria Sylvstedt, a Saint-Tropez insider, revealed that the only way to arrive in Saint-Tropez is by boat, either super yacht or luxury speed boat.
High-end wedding planner Chrissy Caubere (pictured) is looking at accommodation costing €150,000 a week for a sea view as she arranges a wedding for a Hollywood director
Victoria said: ‘It’s easy to blend into the crowd. If you dress well and act well you can go anywhere.’
Stocking some of these boats with the finest wines is Ed Dunnet, who visits the harbour at least three or four times a week to make deliveries.
He said: ‘You have a €300million boat, and you’re spending €30 to €40million just to run it every year, they want to be able to relax and don’t want to think about anything. They’ve got other things to do.
‘Most of the big yachts, and in fact the smaller boats here, will have wine cellars on board, they might have upwards of two, three, four million wine.
‘Last week a Russian client wanted a couple €100,000 wine and a lot of these wines we don’t own so we have to go round the world and often we’re flying things in by private jets.
‘The most expensive single bottle we’ve sold is just shy of €350,000 before VAT. We’ve sold cases of bottles for just shy of a €1million. Set of six whiskies for just over a €1million,’ he added.
Stocking some of the yachts with the finest wines is Ed Dunnet (pictured), who visits the harbour at least three or four times a week to make deliveries
Model Victoria also revealed the best places to stay – with a highlight being Hotel Byblos, which made its name as a celebrity must-go after hosting Mick and Bianca Jagger’s famously wild wedding party.
Meanwhile, viewers will also meet high-end wedding planner, Chrissy Caubere, who was looking at accommodation costing €150,000 a week for a sea view as she arranged a wedding for a Hollywood director.
The programme explained that high-rise buildings aren’t permitted in the town, and there isn’t much property available that’s suitable for lavish celebrities in Saint-Tropez so A-listers search in the surrounding areas.
Actress Joan Collins also said: ‘I come here to Saint-Tropez because I bought a house here, nearby actually, it’s not in Saint-Tropez but it’s 20 mins away, so that I have total peace and tranquillity but I’m 20 mins away from all the madness and excitement of Saint-Tropez.’
The programme also claimed to reveal the ultimate Saint-Tropez celebrity status symbol – buying your own vineyard estate, which can cost between €5million and €52million, according to estate agent Emilia Jedamska.
But for model Victoria, purchasing one was ‘really the way to be a part of it’.
One vineyard owner on the show, Karim Jeribi, who runs the Bertaud Belieu Estate, has even hosted Leonardo DiCaprio, with the actor’s charity dinner for his environmental foundation having previously been held there.
Playgrounds of the Rich and Famous airs tonight at 8pm on Channel 5