Les Impromptus - Lecture: ‘The Submarines of Freedom’

A lecture on little-known episodes from the Second World War in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, particularly off the coast of Ramatuelle.

La Roche Escudelier, off the coast of Ramatuelle, remains a powerful symbol of the Resistance.
In 1943, this natural landmark served as a landing point for Allied submarines, enabling more than 120 intelligence agents to travel between occupied France and Algiers, thanks to the courage of Achille Ottou and his companions. The gendarmes of Saint-Tropez also provided their discreet but essential support, braving the prohibitions of the Vichy regime.

Jean-Charles Meyer, a sailor and then a gendarmerie officer, is now an author and tour guide in Ramatuelle. Passionate about history and writing, he has devoted several books to maritime and local history, including Les sous-marins de la Liberté (The Submarines of Liberty).
Through his research and guided tours, he perpetuates the memory of these clandestine operations that marked the history of the Var coastline.


Organised by the Culture and Heritage Department of Grimaud Town Hall.