Ramatuelle is a medieval pituresque village huddled upto the hillside in the heart of nature. It is a quiet modest village which contrasts with the trendy celebrity side of its beaches of Pampelonne.

The heart of the village is built in the form of a snail. Shops and cafés hide in secret alleyways. The ochre façades and the pastel coloured shutters are decorated with jasmin, honeysuckle and bougainvillea. A pleasure for the senses ! On Thursdays and Sundays the local Provençal market livens up the cafés and restaurants of Place de l'Ormeau.

The beach of Pampelonne became one of the most famous beaches in the world with the jet-set. Two private beaches created the Tropezian myth : "Tahiti Plage" opened in 1946, made out of the abandoned film set originally used by the studios La Victorine for the shooting of the film "Chant des îles" by Georges Manae in 1935 and "Club 55" (created in 1955) which was the canteen for the shooting crew of the famous film "Et Dieu créa la femme" with Brigitte Bardot and is now a renowned restaurant.

For over half a century Pampelonne has seen many a show-biz star starting with Errol Flyn in the 50's, Brigitte Bardot, Roger Vadim, Jane Fonda in the 60's, Michèle Morgan and Gilbert Becaud in the 70's, Sylvester Stalonne, Claudia Schiffer, Elton John and Johnny Hallyday ...just to mention a few.

Two theories, now refuted by historians, exist as to the origins of Ramatuelle.

Some believe that the name comes from the Arab word Rahmatu'llah meaning "Divine Providence" or "Blessed by the Gods".
Others evoke the name of a Celtic-Ligurian settlement, Camatullici, established on the banks of Gapeau river before the Roman conquest arrived.

Chased from their homes, its people are said to have taken refuge in the hills, then set up on the site of the current village. At the time, the area was referred to as the Camatullici Region. The "R" of Region is then said to have replaced the "C" of Camatullici to form the words Ramatullucci, then Ramatuelle.