For a long time, Tropezians nourished a deep hatred towards this royal building.! Although it was supposed to protect them, they stormed it over many times !..

It was built approximately around 1583. Before that, the place was called the "Hill of Mills", and showed a peaceful landscape blown over by the Mistral wind. From the very beginning of this architectural venture, the Tropezians thought that this strategical building would one day turn against the King, and so it happened !

In 1592, the fortress took on more importance. In France, Catholics and Protestants were at war, in Provence, the Count of Carces asked of the Tropezians, that they join the "Ligue" which opposed Catholics and Calvinists. But the Tropezians demanded that the fortress be taken down. In 1596, they repelled 3000 invaders, and stormed the Citadelle over; very much moved by the loyalty of his Tropezian subjects, "Good King" Henry the IVth, declared that: "The Hill of the Mills should bear no Citadelle, and if such be the case, let it be demolished". It was partly the case, since the Town Council voted that before all other chores, men should take down the fortress. Women too were put to the task, they were granted 5 "Carolus" coins for a day's labour, half a man's salary !

Unfortunalely, in 1602 the navy commanding officer went against the Tropezians wish, and ordered the rebuilding of the military place. Again, walls were constructed, casting their shadow over the town in the morning light. The keep was finished in 1607. Three years later, before the Spanish threat, fortifications were increased, and arms put up.

When Louis the XIVth settled on the throne, he decided to disarm Saint-Tropez, and abolish all the privileges and independance rights of its inhabitants. The garrison, instead of pacifying the population, poured oil on to the fire.

The King changed, cannons were removed from the Citadelle, and a tropezian militia replaced the royal troops. While preparing the "Etats Généraux" (the general meeting of all the representatives of the different classes of the society of the time), The Tropezians again, demanded the destruction of the fortress, and required of the King, "as a payment for their loyalty", the right to defend themselves. During the Revolution, the Tropezians invaded the Citadelle

In the XIXth Century, the Citadelle underwent great modifications, A powder room, a new entrance as well as inner fortifications were built. The last garrison left in 1860. During the 1st World War, German prisonners doing works of general interest for the community, were put up there. The Citadelle was listed in 1921. Between 1942 and 1944, both italian and german forces occupied it. A copy of a model in the museum of "les Invalides" in Paris, can be seen in the Citadelle.

It is a precious work of art, where the smallest window, roof top, chimney, or streets are faithfully reproduced. the size of the model enable us to compare cultures and meadows of the surrounding countryside of the time, with what we can see nowadays. Even if you are not interested in history, a visit to the museum is worthwhile if only to discover the magnificent wiew from the keep, over the Bay of Saint-Tropez from Grimaud to the west to the Esterel mountains further along. However the Naval Museum is a treasure chest, the 12 rooms of the keep are full of remembrances, objects, maps, pictures and documents recalling the events we have been relating. 400 years of history are contained behing those ramparts. Lets go and have a look!