About Sainte Maxime

Sainte Maxime

Sainte-Maxime is a beautiful coastal town located in the French Riviera, specifically in the Var department of southeastern France. It is known for its stunning beaches, Mediterranean climate, and charming Provençal atmosphere, making it an ideal holiday destination for tourists.

One of the main draws of Sainte-Maxime is its picturesque coastline. The town boasts several sandy beaches with crystal-clear waters, such as La Nartelle, La Croisette, and Plage des Eléphants. These beaches offer a perfect setting for sunbathing, swimming, and various water sports activities like jet skiing, sailing, and snorkeling.

Aside from its coastal charm, Sainte-Maxime also features a bustling town center filled with narrow streets, quaint shops, and outdoor cafés. The Old Town, known as Le Carré d'Or, is particularly delightful, with its colorful facades and lively atmosphere. Here, visitors can explore local boutiques, art galleries, and sample delicious Provençal cuisine at the many restaurants serving fresh seafood, regional specialties, and fine wines.

For those seeking a bit of history and culture, Sainte-Maxime has some noteworthy attractions. The Musée de la Tour Carrée is a small museum housed in a medieval tower, displaying archaeological artifacts and providing insights into the region's history. The Jardin Botanique des Myrtes is a beautiful botanical garden, showcasing a wide variety of Mediterranean plants and offering panoramic views of the coastline.

Nature lovers will appreciate the stunning surroundings of Sainte-Maxime. The Massif des Maures, a nearby mountain range, provides opportunities for hiking and mountain biking through scenic trails, leading to breathtaking viewpoints. The town is also close to the famous Gorges du Verdon, a dramatic canyon known as the "Grand Canyon of Europe," where visitors can enjoy activities like kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking.

In terms of events and entertainment, Sainte-Maxime hosts various festivals and cultural events throughout the year. The Les Nuits de la Citadelle is a popular summer music festival that takes place in the historic Citadelle de Sainte-Maxime, featuring live performances by renowned artists. The Les Voiles de Sainte-Maxime is a sailing regatta that attracts participants from around the world, showcasing the town's maritime heritage.

Overall, Sainte-Maxime offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, coastal charm, cultural heritage, and recreational activities. Whether you seek relaxation on pristine beaches, exploration of historical sites, or an active outdoor adventure, Sainte-Maxime is a delightful holiday destination that caters to a wide range of interests.

The picturesque seaside town and port of Sainte Maxime enjoys breathtaking views over the Gulf of Saint Tropez, being situated just opposite that celebrated former fishing village. A much quieter resort than its more famous neighbour, Sainte Maxime’s origins date back to prehistoric times as confirmed by Haute Suane, a dolmen located 2km west of the town. Known as Calidiansi by the Phocaeans, who used the town as a trading post for wine, olives and oil, the site was subsequently home to the Romans. The Saracens invaded the area in the seventh century and took control until they were finally defeated by Guillaume de Provence in 973AD.
Around 1 000 AD the monks of the Lérins Islands, opposite Cannes, fortified the site, built a monastery and set about converting the locals to their faith. They also built the Tour Carrée that helped to protect the area from invaders, along with La Tour du Portalet in Saint Tropez. The town became known as Sancta Maxima after the order’s patron saint. Local legend tells us that Maxime, the daughter of the Count of Grasse, Lord of Antibes, took her vows at the Saint Cassien monastery where she soon became a model of the community. She was chosen to head the monastery at Callian, where she died. The votive festival of Sainte Maxime takes place on May 15, the anniversary of her death
The town’s economy was based on fishing until the 18th century when the small port took on more sea-based enterprises, using its fleet of sailing boats to transport olive oil, wine, cork and wood to Marseille and Italy. These activities enabled the town to grow into the beautiful and vibrant town that exists today.
On August 15 1944, Sainte Maxime was at the heart of Operation Dragoon, an invasion designed to liberate the South of France, much of which had been occupied by the Germans. American troops debarked at Sainte Maxime and engaged German troops in house-to-house fighting. The Germans, having been caught off-guard, eventually retreated. This ‘Operation Dragoon’ was an outstanding success for the Allied forces. It enabled them to liberate most of France in a timespan of only four weeks, while inflicting heavy casualties on the German forces.
Jean de Brunhoff, the creator of childhood favourite Babar the Elephant lived in the town for a long time and wrote the first series of Babar here. One of the beaches, now known as La Plage des Eléphants, is depicted in his book ‘Le Voyage de Babar’. The Swedish Royal Family has also maintained a home here for many years.
La Tour Carrée houses the town’s museum which is dedicated to folklore and local traditions. There are exhibits on Provençal costumes, crafts and the local fishing industry. A stroll through the pedestrianised streets of Sainte Maxime, crammed with attractive shops and restaurants, evokes a sense of authentic French history.
There is a ferry to Saint Tropez operated by Bateaux Verts in the harbour. This is a much more pleasant way to get to the smaller but more famous neighbour and avoids the risk of being stuck in traffic for hours. It is said that 30,000 cars pass through Sainte Maxime each day in the summer, most heading for Saint Tropez.
La Musée du Phonographe et de la Musique Mécanique et des Inventions is a small museum just outside Sainte Maxime that provides a fascinating glimpse of life before iPods and smartphones. Inventions such as the gramophone, the musical box, the barrel organ are exhibited alongside photographic and cine-cameras, sewing machines, typewriters, calculators and wireless sets.
There is an 18-hole golf course at the edge of the town with spectacular views over the Gulf of Saint Tropez. A further seven golf courses can be found within 30 minutes of Sainte Maxime.