Sainte Maxime

Village

The small town is south facing at the northern shore of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. In the north the Massif des Maures mountain range protects it from cold winds of the Mistral. Sainte Maxime was founded around 1000 AD by the Monks from the Lérins Islands outside Cannes. They built a monastery and named the village after one of the Saints of their order - Maxime. Fishing was the mainstay for the inhabitants but during the early 19th century increasing amounts of lumber, cork, olive oil and wine was shipped to Marseilles and to Italy. The village grew and in the 20th century it started to attract artists, poets and writers who enjoyed the climate, the beautiful surroundings and the azure blue water. In front of the old town you find the characteristic tower - La Tour Carrée - built by the monks in the early 16th century to protect the village from invaders. With an addition of a battery of cannons and with the Tour du Portalet in Saint Tropez the whole bay was protected. As late as in the beginning of the 19th century, Napoleon ordered a restoration of the battery while also adding cannons on the Lérins Islands. The tower is now a museum.

On August 15, 1944, the beach of Sainte Maxime was at the centre of Operation Dragoon, the invasion and liberation of the Southern France during World War II. "Attack Force Delta", based around the 45th Division, landed at Sainte Maxime. There was fierce "house to house" fighting before the Germans were decimated and eventually surrendered. By the foot of the Harbour pier and by the beach La Garonette (far east in the commune), there are memorials at the respective landing places honoring the US troops. At the Garonette beach, but formally in Les Issambres, (Roquebrune-sur-Argens commune), the sailing centre is named La Batterie, as it was the location of a German artillery battery.

Nowadays, tourism is the largest source of revenue for Sainte Maxime, but the city remains lively all year round with 13 519 inhabitants (2007). There is the old town with shops, markets, restaurants, bars and cafés, opposite the harbour. On the pier, there are marine shops and an upscale restaurant. Here, there is also fast boat transportation with Les Bateaux Verts to Les Issambres, St Tropez and Port Grimaud. There is a shoreline promenade with parks, pine trees, boulodrome Prince Bertil, the tourist office and the city beaches, as well as a Casino with its own piece of white sand.

In addition to the city beaches, there are the Blue Flag supervised ones. On the west side, The Croisette has a sailing school. On the east side of the town are La Nartelle, La Plage des Eléphants and La Garonette (also called Val D'Esquieres), which all provide water-skiing and Jet-ski activities. In addition, there are several smaller beaches that are unsupervised. All adding up to 10 km of publicly accessible shoreline.

There are eight golf courses within 30 minutes radius by car.

Notable people

Jean de Brunhoff, the author of the Babar books, lived in Sainte-Maxime for some time and it was here the first book was created. One of the beaches – La Plage des Eléphants – is named after the famous blue elephant.

The Swedish Royal Family (of the Bernadotte dynasty) owns a villa - Mirage - in the central area of the city. It was originally acquired by the Swedish Prince Bertil in 1946 as a second home for him and his - at that time - unofficial life partner Lilian Davies (later Princess Lilian, Duchess of Halland). The central and ocean facing boulodrome in Sainte Maxime is named after the Prince as he was a regular player appreciating the uncomplicated and warm reception of the village locals.

Raoul Nordling was the Swedish consul in Paris 1944 that made great efforts to save Paris and its citizens during the late phase of the Second World War. He persuaded General Choltitz to disobey Hitler's orders to destroy the French capital and many lives were saved before General Eisenhover approved General Leclerc and de Gaulle to re-enter the city. Norling had a house in Sainte-Maxime Le Mas du Gay Savoir and was also named an honorary citizen. Part of the road to Grimaud is named after him.

Léon Gaumont was a French inventor, engineer, and industrialist who was a pioneer of the motion picture industry. Léon Gaumont often stayed in Sainte Maxime where he owned a castle - Les Tourelles - built circa 1883. This residence served as a backdrop for several films including Judex conducted in 1916 by Louis Feuillade that was shot in part in Sainte-Maxime. The castle – with new buildings – is now a holiday resort. Léon Gaumont died in Sainte-Maxime 1946.

Paul Géraldy or Paul Lefevre (1885–1983) was a French poet and playwright. He had a house in Sainte Maxime named Toi et moi (You and me) which took its name from his second book (which was his breakthrough). The house is located east of the village above the Madrague beach and now split into apartments.

Victor Margueritte (1866–1942) was a French Novelist and a frequent guest in Sainte-Maxime, Around 1920, he bought and developed a large property - La Madrague - which stretched from the sea and climbed to the top of the Colline Meinier magnificently facing south. The writer lived in his tower with his wife until 1938.

Michel Constantin (1924–2003) was a French movie actor. He was a frequent guest in Sainte-Maxime where he owned a villa at Beauvallon.

Sister cites

Sainte-Maxime is twinned with: