“The saga contributed to the discovery of the village and its fame,” recalls the Deputy for Culture.

“The city of Saint-Tropez has finally gained cinematic recognition over the years with films that can be described as cult,” says Michel Perrault, the city’s deputy for Culture.

“The saga The Gendarme of Saint-Tropez participated in this discovery of the village and its reputation”remembers Michel Perrault (DVD), deputy for Culture in the city of Saint-Tropez (Var), guest of France Bleu Azur, Thursday September 19, on the occasion of a special day on France 3 Côte d’Azur in homage to the famous gendarme played by Louis de Funès.

60 years ago, on September 9, 1964, the first episode of the Saint-Tropez Gendarme. Imagined by Richard Balducci, the film tells the adventures of Ludovic Cruchot (Louis de Funès), a very zealous policeman who is transferred to the seaside town of the Côte d’Azur, with the rank of chief warrant officer. There he finds a brigade with Warrant Officer Gerber (played by Michel Galabru), a little overwhelmed, or the policeman played by Jean Lefebvre.

The film, initially conceived as a small comedy with a low budget, would become a popular success. In total, six episodes would be shot. “Saint-Tropez owes a lot to the gendarme”explains Michel Perrault. First of all, it’s a series that spanned 18 years, which gives it a certain longevity in the French and European, even international, cinematographic landscape.”

According to him, the films also have “participated in a rediscovery of the village. The town of Saint-Tropez has finally had over the years a cinematographic recognition with films that can be described as cult. The saga participated in this discovery of the village and its reputation”, the elected official congratulates himself.

The gendarmerie, which was decommissioned in 2003, has become “a museum-monument”. “People both photograph the monument and enter the monument-museum, making it one of the most visited museums in the department”he rejoices. Initially, 78,000 visitors discovered the place in 2016, then the museum exceeded the 300,000 visitor mark in 2018.

“It’s a success because he’s only eight years old, describes Michel Perrault. In general, when you create a museum, you see a growing number of visitors for three years, and then there is a plateau. Some museums even experience a decline afterwards.” But there, the museum is “still in this upward phase for eight years, so it’s quite exceptional”, concludes the elected official.