 In 1966, when Lebanese hotelier
Jean-Prosper Gay-Para began building an all-white, 50-room hotel at the highest
point of what was then the small fishing village of Saint-Tropez, he sought to
capture the essence of his homeland’s ancient port of Byblos. Completed a year
later, the hotel—where peacocks strolled through gardens of palm trees,
bougainvillea, and jasmine—included such Phoenician touches as mosaics, open-air
loggias, and catacomb doors shipped in from Syria. The property also was home to
Les Caves du Roy—a nightclub named after a similar establishment in Beirut—which
soon became a nocturnal hub for the jet-set crowd that flocked to the French
Riviera.
 Four months after hosting a lavish, star-studded opening,
however, Gay-Para returned to Lebanon because of the Arab-Israeli War. He sold
the Byblos Saint-Tropez to French businessman Sylvain Floirat, who, despite
having no prior experience in the hospitality industry, guided the property to
its lofty rank among the resorts on the Côte d’Azur. For four decades and
counting, the Byblos has attracted an international clientele of yachters,
moguls, A-list celebrities, and countless other high-profile guests.
"It’s been a work in progress," says Antoine Chevanne,
Floirat’s great-grandson and the Byblos’ current owner. The hotel, which is
terraced along a hill on seven levels overlooking the Mediterranean, has
certainly undergone its fair share of renovations. Over the years, the property
has come to resemble a colorful Provençal village more than it does a Lebanese
port, although it retains a quirky yet delightful mix of Middle Eastern nuances.
Each of the 96 guest rooms is individually appointed in French country decor and
is large enough to appease American tastes, with floor spaces that are two to
four times larger than the original accommodations from the 1960s.
 To commemorate its 40th anniversary in 2007, the Byblos added
an indoor-outdoor spa near the hotel’s lagoon-shaped swimming pool. The area
features a Turkish bath and a Moroccan-style relaxation space with wood panels
imported from a 16th-century Lebanese palace.
SETTING: In Saint-Tropez, a five-minute walk to the famous clubs, shops,
and beaches of Pampelonne, and a 90-minute drive from the Nice-Côte d’Azur
Airport. SLEEPING: Each of the 51 guest rooms and 45 suites—including a
two-bedroom, split-level presidential suite—features a distinct interior
design. DINING: Provençal and Mediterranean cuisine at the property’s poolside
eatery, B, and Alain Ducasse restaurant, Spoon. The Byblos Bar is an ideal
setting for sunset cocktails, while Les Caves du Roy offers Champagne, dancing,
and decadence from midnight until 5 am. DIVERSIONS: Stroll the winding streets of Saint-Tropez to the marina,
where megayachts, nightclubs, and haute couture reign. RATES: $640–$2,000
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