170 CLIMATE OF ST. TROPEZ. 



present St. Tropcz docs not date back further than the 

 fifteenth centurw It owes its prosperity' to Genoese 

 famihes who settled here. Numerous watch towers round 

 the town and works of defence on the heights show that 

 the place had frequenth' to resist pirates and other foes. 

 Today it is protected only b}' coast-guards who keep 

 watch upon the hills. Thus do times change. Formerh- 

 this town had to repel Corsairs, anxious to pillage it : 

 toda\- it protects itself against smugglers who are onl\- 

 too eager to provide for it. 



St. Trope/- has become a centre of the cork indus- 

 try; and a great man-\- sliips are here laden with 

 cork which comes in from all parts of the Montagnes 

 des Maures. 



St. Tropez could hardh' become a health resort, for 

 it is too much exposed to the winds. The harbour is 

 sheltered from the open sea hx a projecting lieadland; 

 xei the Mistral and the east wind drive the waves of 

 the gulf into it. The curious construction of man-\" of 

 the liouses sho\\'s that in high seas tlie water dashes 

 right up to the breakwater on the shore. These houses 

 liave no windows below, onh" small, tiglith' closing 

 doors, like the base of a lighthouse which has to def\' 

 the sea. With the exception of the abovementioned winds 

 this sea-girt range cnjo^-s a ver\- mild climate; so mucli 

 so that the well known geologist, Klie de l^aumont, has 

 described this spot as the Provence of Pro\'ence. The 

 vegetation is luxuriant : Pines and evergreen Oaks clothe 

 the heights and might\' Chestnuts cast their shade upon 

 tlie slopes. Plere and there a Palm stretches its slender 



