Sainte-Maxime – a small town with flair and charm
Sainte-Maxime accommodates approximately 14.000 inhabitants in the north of the Gulf of St. Tropez and offers holiday guests all comfort in the form of shopping facilities and various destinations for excursions. The small alleyways radiate a lot of charm, especially in the summer time, when the scent of the flower- and vegetable markets is in the air. The meanwhile extended big promenade at the beach invites to walk or relax at one of the numerous city beaches. There are also plenty of restaurants serving traditional French and Mediterranean dishes as well as small, lovingly designed boutiques. During the highly frequented summer months, the amphitheater, the city beaches and promenades offer many events for young and old. So it is also worthwhile to take a look at the city’s event calendar in the evening. The Domaine du Golf de Sainte-Maxime, the Domaine de la Nartelle as well as the Domaine de Beauvallon are considered as one of the most exclusive residential areas.
Places of interest
If you want to enjoy the nature you should visit the “Pointe des Sardinaux”, especially if you travel with a dog you will feel comfortable here. Even in the summer months it is relatively quiet there in the evening and a relaxed sunset can be enjoyed. Also very recommendable are the sightseeing tours with the so-called “Bateaux verts”, that are not only one of the fastest connections to St. Tropez but also offer interesting excursions to the surrounding islands. But before going out on the sea, the city itself can be navigated with the little tinkling train “Le petit train” within a 50 minutes tour.
Excursion destinations
For the summer holiday guests, the beaches of Sainte-Maxime are certainly the most important destination, where you can relax, tan and swim. Right in the city centre there are many beach restaurants offering sun loungers for rent. A trip out of the city centre is definitely worthwhile, however, to visit the sweeping beaches “Plages de la Nartelle”. For the little holiday-makers and families there is a large selection of beaches and a wide range of sports and leisure activities. Offered is a great choice for water sports lovers, as numerous courses in diving, skin-dive, sailing or jet-skiing and especially the parasailing and wakeboard offers appeal to the youngsters. In the water park “Aqualand” families can spend whole days with adventurous slides and swimming pools. Not far from here you can also find the climbing park “Arbre & Aventure”, where not only children have to prove their courage and endurance when climbing up to 15 meter in height. For those who are prepared to drive some kilometer there are bowling alleys, paintball areas and the popular amusement park “Azurparc” at the large shopping centre “La Foux” in Gassin.
Restaurant tips
Of course, at the Côte d’Azur, there is specially one thing in demand: fish and mediterranean cuisine. Many beach restaurants offer exactly these dishes and normally a good quality is offered and with a few exceptions you can eat and drink well here, but in any case, you pay the proximity to the beach.
Good traditional cuisine at reasonable prices can be found in the restaurant “La Réserve” directly at the city promenade. Specially the Bouillabaisse and the menu are also very requested by the residents and those who want to be guests there should in any case reserve a table due to the high demand!
For those who want to dine with a view to the harbor and the sea, a visit to the “L’Amiral” is worthwhile, which offers a large outdoor terrace with a beautiful view and a fresh and delicious fish menu. However, even without a specific destination, you can spontaneously find many pleasant, attractive restaurants and brasseries in the centre of Sainte-Maxime, enjoy the tour and simply try out the extensive range of offers! Or just take a look at our other articles on nearby towns and villages, perhaps you will find some interesting tips there.
Many restaurants in the region are constantly changing owners and type of cuisine, so we would like to point out that the tips given here cannot always be kept up to date. Have you discovered an absolute insider tip during your holiday and want to share this with other holiday-makers? We are always pleased if you describe your stay after your holiday in one of our holiday homes and pass on such information to us!
Have fun during your stay in Sainte-Maxime
Your
Vera Birgel
