Sainte-Maxime

An Eden in the Mediterranean
Sainte-Maxime extends Suani in Val d'Esquières, on both sides of a Semaphoree which dominates over 8000 hectares of land Var anchored in the Mediterranean. The resort which has grown in preserving most of its charm holds the blue flag every year. These discreet charms which, for many decades, contribute to the quality of life of the seaside resort.

The banks of Calida
Haven of peace since the dawn of time, the banks of "Calida" - their old name - have kept that little evidence of a pre-Roman past. I1 is no doubt, however, that celto-Ligurians had to stay here, before the time of Phocéens, landed Massalia of prospection in the bowl of the Plan de la Tour, in search of mineral wealth. Long before the Empire of Rome, which the Greeks and Phoenicians sailed near the coast, between Marseille and amoebae, could not, off-all, ignore this site Home and rest ... but centuries have passed, removing any fingerprints!
Otherwise, it is in the era of the first Christian millennium, the golden hours of a Church that radiated from his monastic foundation of St. Honorat Thoronet and that it was customary to begin the history of city. It took however until the end of the bloody episode of the Saracen invasions, with the decisive victory of William of Provence, 972, to finally settle here, sustainable housing and a real village entity.
This entity, under the protection of a nun sanctified - daughter of the Comte de Grasse, Lord of amoebae, Superior of the Monastery of Callian, died in 750 - will take just the name: Sainte-Maxime ...

City walks
It is through the heart of the metropolitan area that we suggest you start your tour of the city. Opposite the port, such as a missed geographical and historical landmark, an old stone building called "Tower Square" raising its mass to a few cubic meters from the church. Built in 1520, this tower served as a fortification against the aggressors from the sea, then hayloft, Hall of Justice and even city hall.
Completely renovated and development in recent decades, it now houses the Museum of Maintenance of local traditions. Behind it, you canadmire the church, built in 1762, with its wrought iron campanile in the great tradition of Provence. The interior art is multi-religious, like an altar built in serpentine from the Chartreuse de La Verne, stained glass, paintings, sculptures.
You then enter in the old town down the road loach (XVIIIe washhouse style) to the Market Place and the Covered Market. A network of cobbled streets awaits you, featuring a décor and an atmosphere where authenticity is natural that this is in the architecture, appearance, ease of citizenship or Home chaleureux traders and craftsmen ...
You then climb to the Hotel de Ville, formerly Hotel des Mimosas instead of a silk (silkworm rearing). From this "terrace" dominant flower, you can leave to more tree heights ... those of a semaphore culminating at 134 meters, on a hill inhabited by beautiful homes. You have the choice of access ... but you will not miss, along the boulevard Beau Site, to admire the famous "Castle Tourelles", aka "Gaumont Castle" which was owned by the family since 1911 Gaumont ... before becoming a few years ago, a vacation, or the "Charles Villa" (owned by the city since 1983)