©Eglise Saint Michel Grimaud Var 28|Grimaud Tourisme

Saint-Michel Church

Nestling in the heart of the charming village of Grimaud, the church of Saint-Michel is a real eye-catcher in this little Provencal paradise. With its ancient stonework, original stained glass windows and history, Saint-Michel church is a real gem… Come and visit it during your stay in Grimaud!

Construction of the church

From the 11th century, Grimaud had a small church, Saint Michel but we no longer know what it looked like or exactly where it was. It was replaced by this beautiful church with Roman Provençal architecture.

The sheer dimensions and quality of the construction of this church, built in granite and limestone, are proof of the village’s importance at the end of the 12th century and beginning of the 13th century. We can assume that ecclesiastical powers invested in this monument of Grimaud with the goal of extending their domination.

This building was originally covered in schist flagstones. Since then, the original architecture has been modified, such as the construction of the bell tower (16th century), the sacristy (18th century), and the widening of the southern doors.

Due to a lack of space, the cemetery around the church was moved near the Saint Roch windmill at the end of the 19th century.

Stained-glass windows & architecture

Inside there are traces of old frescoes which decorate the walls and arches. Above the transept, an 1850 fresco depicts Saint-Michel, Saint-Pierre, et Saint-Paul de Tarse.

The stained-glass and resin windows were made by jeweller Jacques Gautier in 1975. Organ builder Pascal Quoirin built an organ for the church in 2015, the bell tower was restored in 2018, the main bell in 2021 and the smaller bell in 2024. These two bells are not the original specimens and date from the 18th century.

During the Middle Ages the village stretched from the castle to the top of the hill and as far as the church. The Rue du Baladou (“small ball” in Provençal dialect) connected them all.

Eglise Saint Michel Grimaud Var 25 — ©Les Oiseaux Voyageurs

Eglise Saint Michel Grimaud Var (3) — ©Guillaume Voiturier

Eglise Saint Michel Grimaud Var (2) — ©Guillaume Voiturier

The church that stood here before the current Church of Saint-Michel was the first one to be built in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.

Anecdotes

On the top left of the main wall, you’ll see a window that has been blocked off. It is believed that there was once a staircase there that led to the previous bell tower. The current bell tower is higher than its predecessor and dates from the 16th century.

Finally, the archives revealed a fun fact: a Catholic priest secretly got married to a churchgoer who was 30 years older than him. The villagers of course found out about his deception and he was forced into exile.

The Soirées Musicales de Grimaud

The Church of Saint-Michel has been a concert venue for many years for the festival Les Soirées Musicales de Grimaud (musical evenings).

Since the organ was installed in 2015, these evening concerts have included performances on this versatile wind instrument.

Some great artists have performed in this monument of Grimaud, including Renaud Capuçon, Guillaume Bellom, Norah Amsellem, Magali Pyka de Coster, and the Pulcinella Orchestra.

The Soirées Musicales

©Eglise Saint Michel Grimaud Var 29|Grimaud Tourisme

Soirees Musicales Grimaud Var Musique Classique (10) — ©Cyril Carpentier

©Soirees Musicales Grimaud Var Musique Classique (1)

©Soirees Musicales Grimaud Var Musique Classique 39|Cyril Carpentier

The organ of Saint-Michel Church

Grimaud and classical music have had a great love affair for over 20 years, with the Soirées Musicales de Grimaud festival! In order to create new symphonies, the need for an organ became particularly acute.
The town decided to commission the construction of the instrument. It was a complex undertaking, due to the small size of the building. If the organ couldn’t stand on the ground, it had to be suspended in the church. Quietly nestling under the vault, it found its place between the vault and the archway in the side wall… To the delight of our audience’s ears!

Today, during the Soirées Musicales concerts, you can come and enjoy the mastery of this instrument by the greatest organists, such as Philippe Lefebvre, titular organist of the great organs of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, or even 4-handed concerts… Where the notes are as surprising as the twirling ballet on the 61 keys of the instrument!

Advice for making

the most of your stay

Mapof the village

At the Tourist Information Office, you can obtain a map of the village, which indicates the places of interest, such as the Saint-Michel Church.

Walkin the village

Make the most of your trip to the Saint-Michel church by visiting the village. You will need around an hour and a half to take in the village, with its narrow streets and historic landmarks.