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Origin and history

The citadel of Saint-Tropez has its origins in the defensive needs of a city rebuilt in the 15th century by genoese settlers led by Raphael de Garezzio, after decades of depopulation caused by barbaric conflicts and raids. In 1583, a first fortification was erected on the hills overlooking the Gulf to protect the population of the pirates and the Ottoman Empire. This initiative, initiated by the Duke of La Valette (brother of the Duke of Épernon), is part of a context of political rivalries during the Wars of Religion, despite the opposition of the inhabitants.

Between 1602 and 1607, the Royal Engineer Raymond de Bonnefons built the present hexagonal dungeon, equipped with an inner courtyard and artillery turrets, on the order of Henry IV. The large bastioned enclosure, completed in the 1620s, successfully resisted an attack of 21 Spanish galleys in 1637, during the Thirty Years War. The citadel, symbol of royal authority, is also the scene of internal conflicts: in 1652 it was briefly taken by the Frondeurs before being taken over by the Duke of Mercœur, an ally of the Tropezians.

The monument lost its military role in 1918 and became communal property in 1992. Ranked as a historical monument in 1921 for its dungeon, then in 1995 for its enclosure, it has been home to the Maritime History Museum of Saint-Tropez since 2013. This museum, installed after major works (2002-2013), traces the local naval heritage from ancient times to the present, succeeding the Marine Museum created in 1958 in the dungeon.

The citadel illustrates the strategic stakes of modern Provence: coastal defence against barbarians, rivalries between Catholic League and royal power, and affirmation of central authority under Henry IV and Louis XIV. Its construction also reflects local tensions, as in 1672, when Louis XIV abolished the tax privileges of Saint-Tropez, ending a century of relative autonomy inherited from Raphael de Garezzio.

Architecturally, the citadel combines pre-Vaubanian elements (earth rise, bastions) and 17th century innovations, such as the moat and counterscarp system. Although Vauban made minor changes to it (plan in relief of 1716), its structure remains marked by royal engineers like Bonnefons. The remains of the Old Tower and Portalet (16th century) bear witness to the first genoese fortifications, while the 18th century chapel emphasizes its evolution towards less strictly military use.

Future

In 1958 the Donjon was transformed into a "museum of the navy" or is exhibited in a dozen rooms the Tropézian naval heritage from antiquity to the contemporary era: engravings, paintings, documents, amphores, models...

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