The yachts are gone. The terraces have half-folded up their chairs. And into this September quiet, the novelists arrive. This weekend, September 25 to 27, Saint-Tropez hosts a literary gathering, part of a wider selection of cultural events across the Var flagged by regional paper Nice-Matin.
There is something almost pointed about a book event landing here, right now. The village at this time of year has a different weight to it: the light is lower, the streets are actually walkable, and a conversation can last more than five minutes without someone squeezing past with a beach bag. Honestly, it might be the best possible moment to sit and listen to someone talk about fiction.
Elsewhere in the Var this weekend, street arts take over La Seyne-sur-Mer and a circus pitches in Fréjus. Three very different propositions for one peninsula. The Var has a quiet habit of saving its more thoughtful programming for September, once the crowds have stopped paying attention.
For exact venue, times and any ticket details, check with the Saint-Tropez tourist office directly.
