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Travel Guide My Home In Saint-Tropez Get to know My Home In Saint-Tropez

The Bravade of Saint-Tropez

The Bravade is 450 years old and is celebrated every 16 or 18 May of the year. It is a employer’s festivity that pays homage especially to Saint Torpes, but also to the defense of the peninsula. During this occasion, Saint-Tropez puts on two emblematic colors: red and white, marking signs of love and especially of "bravery".

For several millennia, the pirates have monopolized the Mediterranean coasts. It was essential to appoint quickly a war leader in order to counter these barbarians. In 1558, the Council of the Community pronounced the elected one who will be designated as Captain of the city, leader of the local militia and commander of the soldiers.

From this date, an election was scheduled on Easter Monday by the Municipal Council to distinguish the benevolent angel of the city. For more than a century, the Captains and their militia activated to ensure the defense and security of Saint-Tropez.

They are the main shields which tactically opposed the numerous internal and external attacks. They fought for the purpose of bringing victory, but also to preserve peace on the whole peninsula. Their prowess was soon recognized by the sovereigns of the time, Louis XIV in person, received praise and letters patent of the resistance of the tropéziennes militias.

During his reign, the King summoned the bravado and granted a garrison to be supplied at the Citadel. But by stopping all use of weapons to defend Saint-Tropez, the militia preferred to preserve the pieces to respect their patron saint. The Captain of the city never ceased to be at the head of the Bravado.

When he came on the 16th, 17th, or 18th of May, he put on his soldier's costume and raised the weapons he wore during the wars. The inhabitants do the same to honor the festival, but also to pay tribute to the missing.

Since then, Saint-Tropez has been displaying its inhabitants every year, armed and having an uniform, launching the festivities by throwing blunderbusses and gunshots in honor of the Saint, just as the time when they were in combat.

During the feast of the Bravade, the Tropezians look back on their determination to protect the city from the attacks of the enemies who wanted to invade their native land. To show that they are still part of the militia, the militia go to the chapel of Saint-Tropez and dedicate a mass there.

The Bravade marks, therefore, the freedom of Saint-Tropez. It is the communion of all the Tropezians, whose narratives praise heroic and faithful soldiers. The festival has remained intact until today and surely perpetuated by generations to come .