Sainte-Maxime
Set against the backdrop of the Maures mountains, Sainte-Maxime is undoubtedly the most popular and lively family seaside resort in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez.
Sainte-Maxime is not only an ideal vacation spot, but also a town that’s a pleasure to live in on a daily basis, and without a doubt a little piece of paradise in the heart of the Côte d’Azur.
A CORNER OF PARADISE
Relaxation and Provencal charm
Between the sea and the mountains, protected from the Mistral winds by wooded hills, Sainte-Maxime offers authentic Provencal charm, with cobbled squares, craft stores and architecture still steeped in history.
For sunbathing and relaxation, the coastline offers 12 km of alternating fine sand beaches and wild coves, with six public beaches.
PROTECTED NATURAL AREA
The Pointe des Sardinaux, accessible via a corniche lined with umbrella pines, is an unsuspected haven of peace. This wild peninsula, nicknamed “Little Corsica”, is classified as a protected natural area. With fins, mask and a snorkel, you can explore the richness and fragility of the seabed on a marine trail.
On the heights of Sainte-Maxime, the Deffend trail offers a breathtaking 360° view of the Esterel massif, the Maures mountains and the entire bay.
LIVE INTENSELY ALL YEAR ROUND
Of the twelve communes in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, Sainte-Maxime has the largest population, with 15,000 year-round residents.
Unlike many seaside resorts, which only work in the summer season, this town lives summer and winter, to the rhythm of numerous cultural and sporting events and a host of leisure and tourist activities.
Every year, the Gala Evenings feature concerts and extravagant shows. Also not to be missed is the Nuits de la Nartelle festival, one of the highlights of the town’s cultural schedule, when the spellbinding sounds of classical music resonate in the amphitheatre of the Chapelle de la Nartelle.
Leisure activities for all
When it comes to leisure activities, Sainte-Maxime offers an inexhaustible range. For golf enthusiasts, Golf Blue Green offers an exceptional 18-hole course with unforgettable views of the bay and mountains.
From the Aqualand leisure park to the Accrobranche Aventure, from mountain biking to boat excursions, on horseback or aboard the Petit Train des Pignes, from the Exo 83 water-ski lift to the Arena Plage water sports centre, there’s something for every age and every taste.
A popular seaside resort
To see the town in a different light, try a guided architecture and heritage tours to discover the villas of the Belle Époque, built in the 1920s in a distinctive architectural style known as neo-regionalism.
This was the period when the seaside resort became very popular with the young, happy and wealthy bourgeoisie, who came to spend their winters here.
Or why not take a gourmet stroll through the vineyards of a winegrowing estate, in an exceptional terroir with remarkable landscapes.
The pleasure of the senses
The Provencal art of living is a complete spectrum of flavours and sensory pleasures.
Sainte-Maxime also boasts gourmet restaurants and numerous markets: from the fish market to the regional produce market, or the huge Sainte-Maxime market, with fabrics, jewellery and other handicrafts, the covered market or the Patio fleuri market.
There’s plenty to see and do, and plenty of local specialities and products to sample.