In short
La Bravade takes place every 16, 17 and 18 May in Saint-Tropez, honouring Saint Torpès of Pisa. A corps of around 190 villagers in eighteenth century militia uniform marches behind its Capitaine de Ville, fires black powder salvoes through the streets and carries the reliquary bust along the quays. Held since 1558, 468th edition in 2026. No tickets, no barriers, and it belongs to the village.
Every year on 16, 17 and 18 May, a corps of villagers in eighteenth century militia uniform fires black powder salvoes through the streets of Saint-Tropez behind the reliquary bust of the town's patron saint. The village closes its shops for it. The Bravade has been held since 1558 and reached its 468th edition in 2026, which makes it the weekend that shows what this place was before the yachts.
What is the Bravade de Saint-Tropez?
A procession in honour of Saint Torpès of Pisa, beheaded in the year 68, whose body is said to have washed ashore here. The Bravadeurs, a corps capped at around 190 men for safety reasons, dress in the uniform of the eighteenth century town militia, march behind their Capitaine de Ville and fire black powder salvoes at fixed points around the village over three days. The reliquary bust leaves the church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption and is carried through the village and along the quays. The Capitaine is chosen by the Cepoun from among the bravadeurs, then confirmed by the town council on Easter Monday.
Two things surprise visitors. The first is the noise: the musket volleys are fired in narrow streets and they are loud, which is worth knowing if you have young children or a nervous dog. The second is that the Bravade belongs to the village. Participation passes down through families, the corps rehearses, and the town takes it seriously.
| Moment | What happens | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | The Capitaine de Ville receives the Pique, the corps forms up | Town hall and the port |
| Procession of the bust | The reliquary bust of Saint Torpès carried through the streets with the corps | From the church through the village |
| Blessing of the arms | The priest blesses the muskets before the salvoes begin, three in the afternoon on the 16th | The church and the streets |
| Salut à la mer | Salvoes fired towards the sea, the Suffren statue and the rescue boats, around half past five on the 17th | The Vieux Port and the môle |
The detailed hour by hour programme is published by the town each spring. Verified August 2026.
Watching a procession that belongs to the village
Anywhere along the route, and respectfully. There are no barriers, no tickets and no reserved zones: the procession passes through the ordinary streets of the village and the crowd stands at the edges. The Place de la Mairie, the quays of the Vieux Port and the streets between the church and the port are the natural points, and if you want height, the steps up towards the Citadelle look down on the route.
Two pieces of etiquette that matter. Keep clear when a volley is about to be fired, since the corps needs space and the muskets are real. And remember this is a religious procession for the people taking part: photographing it is entirely accepted, standing in the middle of it is not.
What is Saint-Tropez like in May?
At its best, and almost nobody plans for it. Mid May is before the season proper: the beach clubs at Pampelonne are opening rather than open, the village is busy but not blocked, and the road in is passable. The hills behind the village are green from the spring, which they will not be again until autumn, and the sea is cold but the light is already summer light.
Practically, the Bravade weekend is the busiest of the pre-season, so accommodation in the village needs booking ahead even in May. Sainte-Maxime and Grimaud across the gulf are the fallback, connected by the shuttle boats that make Saint-Tropez reachable without the road.
What is worth photographing that weekend?
The volleys are the spectacle and the hardest thing to shoot: they last a second and the smoke hides everyone. What holds up afterwards is the rest: the corps forming up in the early morning light, faces under the tricorne hats, the bust of the saint against the ochre walls, families watching from windows, the whole village in one street.
The light on those three days is the thing to plan around. On 16, 17 and 18 May in Saint-Tropez the sun rises just after six in the morning and sets at ten to nine in the evening, with civil twilight running to about half past nine, and the early morning assembly is the best hour of the whole weekend. The official figures are linked below. Our Saint-Tropez editorial photography page covers documentary and reportage work in the village, and the best places to propose in Saint-Tropez covers the quieter corners of the same streets.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Bravade de Saint-Tropez?
A religious and military procession held every year on 16, 17 and 18 May in honour of Saint Torpès of Pisa, the martyr the village is named after. A corps of around 190 villagers, the Bravadeurs, dress in eighteenth century militia uniform, march behind their Capitaine de Ville, fire black powder musket salvoes at fixed points around the village and carry the reliquary bust from the church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption through the streets and along the quays. It has been held since 1558 and reached its 468th edition in 2026.
Is the Bravade a tourist event?
It belongs to the village. Participation passes down through families, the corps rehearses, and the town takes it seriously. Watching is entirely accepted and there are no tickets or barriers, but standing in the middle of the procession is not. Keep clear when a volley is about to be fired, because the muskets are real and the volleys in narrow streets are loud.
Where can you watch the Bravade?
Anywhere along the route, which runs through the ordinary streets of the village with no barriers or reserved zones. The Place de la Mairie, the quays of the Vieux Port and the streets between the church and the port are the natural points. For height, the steps climbing towards the Citadelle look down over the route.
Is mid May a good time to visit Saint-Tropez?
It is one of the best and almost nobody plans for it. The season has not started, so the village is busy but not blocked and the single road in is passable. The hills behind are still green from the spring, and the light is already summer light even though the sea is cold. The Bravade weekend itself is the busiest of the pre-season, so book accommodation ahead.
Want the three days documented?
We cover the Bravade as reportage, from the early morning assembly to the salut à la mer. One photographer, no direction, no posing. Tell us which of the three mornings matters to you.
Talk to us about MayMore reading: the best places to propose in Saint-Tropez, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, and the best time of year for a photoshoot here.
Sources
Dates, times, rules and access details in this guide come from these official sources. Checked in August 2026.
- Saint-Tropez tourist office, official event calendar, access, parking and shuttle boat information.
- Town of Saint-Tropez, official Bravade programme, route and hour by hour timings.
- Les Bateaux Verts, the shuttle boat service between Sainte-Maxime, Port Grimaud and Saint-Tropez.
- IMCCE, Observatoire de Paris, official sunrise and sunset times for any date on the coast.