Sanary sur Mer

Sanary-sur-Mer is a coastal town in the Var department, between Toulon and Bandol, known for its lively fishing harbour where traditional wooden boats called pointus still moor. The palm-lined seafront is the hub of local life, with its cafés, seafood restaurants and Provençal market held every Wednesday by the town hall square. In the 1930s, the town became home to a notable community of exiled German writers and artists, a history now marked by commemorative plaques in the town centre. Local landmarks include a 12th-century Romanesque tower on the harbour and the Notre-Dame-de-Pitié chapel overlooking the bay. Several sandy and pebble beaches, such as Portissol, along with a coastal footpath leading towards Bandol, make the most of the seaside setting. The nearby Embiez archipelago and the Gros Cerveau hills offer further options for day trips. With its Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers, the area is well suited to water sports and exploring this stretch of the Provençal coast.