The DNA: It is not just the new beach clubs on Plage de Pampelonne making a splash in Saint-Tropez. There are also new hotels causing a stir. For example: The Lily of the Valley, a five-star hotel designed by Philippe Starck, in La Croix-Valmer on the Saint-Tropez peninsula. Overlooking the beaches of Gigaro, this area is a pocket of nature, just 20 minutes away from Saint-Tropez itself. The hotel was conceived like a village of houses blending into this lush natural landscape. Starck explains that he found inspiration in a “fantasy of Antiquity,” which he modernized with contemporary materials. Spread over two levels, the hotel utilizes indoor-outdoor spaces to play with light, vegetation and colors, thereby creating a link to the natural world. Lily of the Valley is owned by entrepreneur Alain Weill and his daughter Lucie. Their family has vacationed in this area for generations, and they wanted to share this corner of paradise with the world. There are two restaurants overseen by chef Vincent Maillard, two swimming pools and nearly 2,000m2 (222,000 sq ft) of space dedicated to wellbeing and health. In fact, wellbeing is a major focus of the hotel’s philosophy, with award-winning spa manager Diane Bernardin overseeing the spa, gym, and health programs, including detox and holistic therapies.

✅ free Wi-Fi • size matters: 38 rooms & suites (35-80m2) (377-861 sq ft) • hotel opened: June 2019 • interior design: Philippe Starck ✅ free on-site parking • pets allowed • 24-hour front desk