SAINTE-MAXIME... A balcony over the Med

SAINTE-MAXIME and Saint-Tropez were the Bay's former sentries. At the time of the Barbary Coast pirate invasions, canon fire resounded from the "Tour Carrée" (Square Tower) and the top of the "Portalet", used to defend Saint-Tropez's city walls. Today, Sainte-Maxime's geographical location and number of inhabitants make it the Bay's largest town - a balcony between "Les Issambres" and "Pointe de la Rabiou".

Here are several ways of arriving at Sainte-Maxime. The first and most commonly-used is the RD25 road. The road is very quiet at night and few houses line the way. The famous smuggler Gaspard de Besse used to hide out in these woods when the local police were chasing him!   

The Massif des Maures gives today the opportunity to do beautifull walks with one’s family on footpaths, with a panoramic view on the Golfe de Saint-Tropez. After crossing the town's modern quarters, you will arrive directly in the town centre, in the heart of the shopping streets between the Harbour Office and the Casino.

You can also reach Sainte-Maxime by the coast road from Les Issambres. But be careful ! The turning, just after the pretty "Plage de la Nartelle" beach, is easy to miss. On sunny days, as you drive along this road, the sea sparkles like a thousand diamonds...

On certain evenings, as the sun sets over Grimaud, the view is like something out of a painting by the pointillist artist Georges Seurat! In the foreground, the umbrella pines mingle their deep purples with the dark green of the woods, the Mediterranean is laced with silver and the sky flares into a complex palette of yellows and pale pinks, blues and whites. Then, with the delicate touch of a fine white brush, the first stars appear.

This enchanting display changes every second. So get your camera ready to capture the moment! Be careful if you're driving, though and don't stop on a curve - someone is behind you ! And if you've run out of film, don't worry; your eyes will capture this unforgettable sight forever !

A bustling seaside resort, Sainte-Maxime is home to a wide choice of quality hotels and restaurants. Set on a hillside, the town's 18-hole, 6155 m, par 71 golf course offers fabulous sea views. In the evening, after a hard day on the golden sandy beach (!), the promenade's busy café terraces light up to the sound of live orchestras.

Whether you want to rest, sleep or romance, every possible holiday wish comes true in Sainte-Maxime in Summer. And if you're feeling athletic, you can also practise tennis, jet ski, mountain-biking, horse riding or quad. From the “Corso du Mimosa” in February to the Christmas Market in December, Sainte Maxime offers a host of original events all year round.

In May, the Bravade celebration honours the town’s Patron Saint. In June, this is the beach rugby tournament and in summer the free shows and concerts at the Théâtre de la Mer. In October, the Autumn Festival pays tribute to a personality from the art world.

Then it’s the turn of the “Salon du gout” and then, in November, the “Rallye du Var” (final stopover from the French rally championship). Plan to visit the Musée du Phonographe et de la Musique Mécanique. Just ask - the museum is at Saint-Donat.