WORDS/PHOTOS: ADRIAN DE GROOT
Imagine you’re walking through a quant old medieval city with narrow streets, lots of picturesque scenes, buildings and remnants of castles and walls to photograph, when all of a sudden you are captivated by objects attached to doors of all colors.
This is what caught my eye in St. Tropez, a beautiful small city on the French Riviera, where the rich and famous have parked their splendid yachts in the harbor where I came in via a ferry from Les Issambres, where I was staying. Apparently, it was Brigitte Bardot in the movie “And God Created Woman”, filmed in St. Tropez in 1956 that started the influx of the rich and famous and propelled the town to the popular tourist destination it is today.
What are these objects? Foremost, these are the unique door knockers that so charmingly adorn the town’s doors. And then there are the unique mail slots, keyholes, handles and even electric doorbells in all kinds of styles. They all become the highlight of the often simple doors, even though many of them are painted in eye-catching colors. I have absolutely no idea how old these elements are. Perhaps even centuries old. They gave me the feeling of stepping back in time.
According to the Facebook group “Door Knockers Appreciation Society”, St. Tropez is famous for their plentiful door knockers. I can see why.
Next time you’re in St. Tropez, you know what to also look for!
