Nomination of the 457-th Saint-Tropez Town Captain

General-Staff revealed

The story begins on 24 June 1558 when the Council of the Commune of Saint-Tropez appointed a “Captain of the Town” to be in charge of their troops and to organise them “to guard and protect the town”. Wanting to maintain this custom, each year the Tropeziens elect a Captain of the Town to preside over the traditional festivities organised in honour of the important events which have marked their history.

To be Captain of the Town is a great honour and a prestigious responsibility, particularly during the organisation of the “Bravade”, the biggest and most famous of the Town’s traditional festivals. During this time the Tropeziens show their deep attachment to their town by honouring its motto: “Ad Usque Fidelis”, faithful to the end.

The Association Friends of the Bravade and the guardians of tradition held a meeting at the Oustau (“meeting house” in the Provençal language) on Sunday 15 February 2015 to discover the identity of the new Captain. It was the Cépoun (“guardian of traditions” in the Provençal language) himself, Serge Astezan, who announced the name of the 457th Captain of the Town, in the presence of the Mayor of Saint-Tropez, Jean-Pierre Tuvéri, and Monseigneur Hayes, the Saint-Tropez Parish Priest: Alain Grosso.

Mousquetaire (musketeer), Fifre (fife player), Marin (sailor), are just a few of his distinctions in the sacrosanct Order of the Bravade. He will be assisted by Jean-Michel Panacci (Major), Clément Pradon/Grosso (Ensign) and Damien Astézan (Ensign Major).