Sainte-Maxime is lined by twelve kilometres of coastline and combines public beaches with walking paths, heritage and regional food experiences. If you choose the town as a holiday destination, beach time does not have to be the only focus: water sports, nature, history and local produce each offer their own highlights.
Beaches and water sports
Sainte-Maxime has six public beaches. Four of them are accessible to people with reduced mobility and are supervised during the summer season. Simplibus shuttles serve the public beaches, with car parks nearby. For specific beach plans, it is worth checking the current timetable.
At Plage de la Croisette, the Club Nautique de Sainte-Maxime offers lessons and training in various water sports. Plage de la Madrague has a different appeal: it has retained its natural character, with a succession of coves suitable for walking and snorkelling. This means water sports and a coastline that invites you to walk and observe are presented as distinct beach experiences.
The Pointe des Sardinaux is accessible from the Corniche only on foot and forms part of the coastal trail. Check the current trail conditions before your visit. Scuba diving is also possible at the Pointe, at depths of 0 to 40 metres, offering a chance to explore the Mediterranean underwater world.
Garden, trails and views
The Jardin Botanique des Myrtes is home to more than 60 species of Mediterranean plants, some of which are over a hundred years old. The garden also includes a children’s play area and a Braille learning trail for visitors with visual impairments. The botanical collection, play area and learning trail offer different points of interest, without reducing the garden to a single audience or theme.
Those who would rather choose a trail with views in the hills above Sainte-Maxime can follow the Sentier du Deffend. From there, the 360-degree panorama takes in the Esterel massif, the Massif des Maures and the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. The architecture and heritage circuit offers an urban focus: its 26 stops lead through Sainte-Maxime, along a walking route lasting approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. This approximate duration provides a guide for planning your time.
Heritage and local history
Construction of the Tour Carrée as a coastal tower to protect Sainte-Maxime began in 1520. Guided visits to the tower can be booked according to the published schedule. If you plan to take a guided tour, check the current dates in the schedule.
The church also tells the story of several building phases: it was built in 1762 and extended in 1851. After the presbytery was demolished, it acquired its final appearance in 1938. This sequence makes the building’s changes over time clear, rather than reducing the church to a single founding date.
Near Plage de la Nartelle, at the Débarquement roundabout, stands a Sherman tank. It recalls Sainte-Maxime’s wartime history and a hard-won freedom. Together with the Tour Carrée and the church, this site offers another way to discover the local heritage.
Market and winegrowing
The covered market in Sainte-Maxime is in the town centre and is open all year round. It offers local specialities and produce from local producers. The winegrowing tour at Domaine des Beaucas follows small paths through the vineyard rows and ends with a tasting of the estate’s wines. While the market brings together a range of produce from local producers, the tour focuses on winegrowing and the wines of Domaine des Beaucas.
Discover more destinations: Besse-Sur-Issole, Ponteves, Pourrières, Montferrat, Plan-De-La-Tour, Draguignan, Entrecasteaux, Le Flayosquet
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