Sanary-sur-Mer

Visit Sanary-sur-Mer, Provence

Sanary-sur-Mer is a popular coastal resort on the Cote d'Azur situated between Bandol (to the west) and Toulon (to the east). A relatively quiet resort (for the Riviera) it is a pleasant place to explore.

Exploring Sanary-sur-Mer

A visit to the town will start in the pretty harbour, lined with palm trees and pastel coloured houses, and a stroll along the sea front.

In the centre of the houses that line the port you can see the square 13th century tower that was once part of an important defensive system for the town - it was around this tower that the village originally developed in the middle ages. The tower now contains a Diving Museum, and you can climb to the top of the tower for lovely views.

The port also still contains an active fishing fleet and you can buy fresh fish on the quai here each morning (or visit one of the many restaurants that serve delicious seafood).

While you explore the streets of the town there are two religious monuments of interest. The Chapel of Notre-Dame de Pitié within the town is a 16th century chapel with very good views of the coast and the small islands that lie offshore, while the church of Naint-Nazaire was built in the centre of Sanary-sur-Mer in the 19th century, on the site of an earlier church.

The main market in Sanary is held on a wednesday morning.

Beaches at Sanary-sur-Mer

If you are looking for beaches you won't be disappointed, with several in close proximity to the town, some sandy and some rocky. To the west of Sanary are the beaches of Lido, Gourgette and Beaucours, while Portissol and the beach of the Esplanade are most centrally placed, and the beach at Bonnegrace is to the south-east. Other smaller beaches can also be found.

The Esplanade beach although small gets very busy due to its proximity to the town centre, while the beaches of Lido, Portissol and Bonnegrace are the most popular with families. La Cride, Beaucours and Roc Amour are smaller, pebble beaches.

General information

Note: it was in the waters off Sanary-sur-Mer that Jacques Cousteau developed the diving equipment that is still crucial to deep-sea diving (hence the Diving Museum in the 'roman tower').

Note 2: a plaque in the village commemorates the German authors who sought exile in Sanary-sur-Mer before the second world war, many of whom were subsequently interned by the French as enemy aliens. The writers included Bertolt Brecht and Thomas Mann among many others.

Tourist classifications for Sanary-sur-Mer: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 4*;

Suggested places to visit near Sanary-sur-Mer, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Cassis 24km; Hyeres 27km; Aubagne 27km; Calanques at Marseille 33km; Iles d'Hyeres 36km; Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume 37km; Marseille 40km; Chateau d'If 43km; Bormes-les-Mimosas 44km; Barjols 52km; Aix-en-Provence 53km; Thoronet Abbey 53km; Entrecasteaux 57km; Carry-le-Rouet 58km; Salernes 59km; Cavalaire-sur-Mer 59km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Sanary-sur-Mer

Sanary-sur-Mer tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Ollioules - recommended detour (4km) : Cap Sicié - site of natural beauty (8km) : Jardin de Baudouvin - remarkable garden (15km) : Domaine d'Orvès - remarkable garden (15km) : Parc du Mugel - site of natural beauty (17km) : Parc municipal du Mugel - remarkable garden (17km) : Cap Canaille - site of natural beauty (24km) : Le Plantier de Costebelle - remarkable garden (26km) :

French version: see Sanary-sur-Mer (Francais)