Sainte-Maxime
Encyclopedia
Sainte-Maxime is a commune
and city in the Var
department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
region
. I.e. on the French Riviera
(Côte d'Azur) in southeastern France
90 km (55.9 mi) from Nice
and 130 km (80.8 mi) from Marseille
.
of Saint-Tropez
. In the north the Massif des Maures mountain range
protects it from cold wind
s of the Mistral
. Sainte Maxime was founded around 1000 AD by the Monks from the Lérins Islands
outside Cannes
. They build 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 Marsielles 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 azur blue water. In front of the old town you find the characteristic tower - La Tour Carrée - build 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
. US Delta Force from 93rd Evac landed at Sainte Maxime. There was a lively "house to house" fighting before the Germans were decimated and eventually gave up. 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 is very much "alive" 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 you also find a 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. Also 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 - with a sailing school. On the east side of the town La Nartelle, La Plage des Eléphants and La Garonette (also called Val D'Esquieres) who all provides water-skiing and Jet-ski
activities. In addition there are several smaller beaches that are not supervised. All ending up to 10 km of public accessible shoreline.
There are 8 golf courses within 30 minutes radius by car.
, the author with the elephant Babar
, 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 varm reception of the village locals.
Raoul Nordling
was the Swedish consul in Paris 1944 that made great efforts to save Paris and it's citicens 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 and many lives were saved before General Eisenhover approved to General Leclerc and de Gaulle
to enter the city . Norling had a house in Sainte-Maxime Le Mas you 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) is a French poet and playwright. He had a house in Sainte Maxime named Toi et moi (Me and You) who took its name from his second book that 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 of 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 of Sainte-Maxime where he owned a villa at Beauvallon.
with: Bellport
Neuenbürg
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
and city in the Var
Var (département)
The Var is a French department in the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in Provence, in southeast France. It takes its name from the river Var, which used to flow along its eastern boundary, but the boundary was moved in 1860...
department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur or PACA is one of the 27 regions of France.It is made up of:* the former French province of Provence* the former papal territory of Avignon, known as Comtat Venaissin...
region
Régions of France
France is divided into 27 administrative regions , 22 of which are in Metropolitan France, and five of which are overseas. Corsica is a territorial collectivity , but is considered a region in mainstream usage, and is even shown as such on the INSEE website...
. I.e. on the French Riviera
French Riviera
The Côte d'Azur, pronounced , often known in English as the French Riviera , is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, also including the sovereign state of Monaco...
(Côte d'Azur) in southeastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
90 km (55.9 mi) from Nice
Nice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
and 130 km (80.8 mi) from Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
.
Village
The small town is south facing at the northern shore of the GulfBay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
of Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez is a town, 104 km to the east of Marseille, in the Var department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. It is also the principal town in the canton of Saint-Tropez....
. In the north the Massif des Maures mountain range
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
protects it from cold wind
Wind
Wind is the flow of gases on a large scale. On Earth, wind consists of the bulk movement of air. In outer space, solar wind is the movement of gases or charged particles from the sun through space, while planetary wind is the outgassing of light chemical elements from a planet's atmosphere into space...
s of the Mistral
Mistral (wind)
The mistral is a strong, cold and usually dry regional wind in France, coming from the north or northwest, which accelerates when it passes through the valleys of the Rhone and the Durance Rivers to the coast of the Mediterranean around the Camargue region. It affects the northeast of the plain...
. Sainte Maxime was founded around 1000 AD by the Monks from the Lérins Islands
Lérins Islands
The Lérins Islands are a group of four Mediterranean islands off the French Riviera, near Cannes. The two largest islands in this group are the Île Sainte-Marguerite and the Île Saint-Honorat...
outside Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
. They build 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
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
, cork, olive oil
Olive oil
Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...
and wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
was shipped to Marsielles and to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. 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 azur blue water. In front of the old town you find the characteristic tower - La Tour Carrée - build by the monks in the early 16th century to protect the village from invaders. With an addition of a battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
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
Lérins Islands
The Lérins Islands are a group of four Mediterranean islands off the French Riviera, near Cannes. The two largest islands in this group are the Île Sainte-Marguerite and the Île Saint-Honorat...
. The tower is now a museum.
On August 15, 1944, the beach of Sainte Maxime was at the centre of Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
, the invasion and liberation of the Southern France
Southern France
Southern France , colloquially known as le Midi is defined geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Gironde, Spain, the Mediterranean, and Italy...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. US Delta Force from 93rd Evac landed at Sainte Maxime. There was a lively "house to house" fighting before the Germans were decimated and eventually gave up. 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
Les Issambres
Les Issambres is the seaside and holiday destination of commune de Roquebrune-sur-Argens. It stretches along 8 km of inlets and fine sandy beaches. Its incarnation as a resort took place in the 1930s with the development of Hotel La Résidence above the La Garonette Beach...
, (Roquebrune-sur-Argens
Roquebrune-sur-Argens
Roquebrune-sur-Argens is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.It lies not far from the cities of Draguignan and Fréjus. It consists of three smaller villages: the village of Roquebrune-sur-Argens, La Bouverie and Les Issambres...
commune) the sailing centre is named La Batterie as it was the location of a German artillery battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
.
Nowadays tourism is the largest source of revenue for Sainte Maxime but the city is very much "alive" 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 you also find a fast boat transportation with Les Bateaux Verts
Les Bateaux Verts
Les Bateaux Verts is a ferry company operating a service between Saint-Tropez, Sainte-Maxime, Port Grimaud and Les Issambres....
to Les Issambres
Les Issambres
Les Issambres is the seaside and holiday destination of commune de Roquebrune-sur-Argens. It stretches along 8 km of inlets and fine sandy beaches. Its incarnation as a resort took place in the 1930s with the development of Hotel La Résidence above the La Garonette Beach...
, St Tropez and Port Grimaud. There is a shoreline promenade with parks, pine trees, boulodrome
Pétanque
Pétanque is a form of boules where the goal is, while standing inside a starting circle with both feet on the ground, to throw hollow metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball called a cochonnet or jack. It is also sometimes called a bouchon or le petit...
Prince Bertil, the tourist office and the city beaches. Also a Casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
with its own piece of white sand.
In addition to the city beaches there are the Blue Flag
Blue Flag beach
The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education that a beach or marina meets its stringent standards.The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE which is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation consisting of 65 organisations in 60 member countries in Europe,...
supervised ones. On the west side The Croisette - with a sailing school. On the east side of the town La Nartelle, La Plage des Eléphants and La Garonette (also called Val D'Esquieres) who all provides water-skiing and Jet-ski
Personal water craft
A personal water craft , also called water scooter, is a recreational watercraft that the rider rides or stands on, rather than inside of, as in a boat....
activities. In addition there are several smaller beaches that are not supervised. All ending up to 10 km of public accessible shoreline.
There are 8 golf courses within 30 minutes radius by car.
Notable people
Jean de BrunhoffJean de Brunhoff
Jean de Brunhoff was a French writer and illustrator known for creating the Babar books, the first of which appeared in 1931. He was the fourth and youngest child of Maurice de Brunhoff, a publisher, and his wife Marguerite. He attended Protestant schools, including the prestigious Ecole Alsacienne...
, the author with the elephant Babar
Babar the Elephant
Babar the Elephant is a French children's fictional character who first appeared in Histoire de Babar by Jean de Brunhoff in 1931 and enjoyed immediate success. An English language version, entitled The Story of Babar, appeared in 1933 in Britain and also in the United States. The book is based on...
, 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
Swedish Royal Family
The Swedish Royal Family since 1818 consists of a number of persons in the Swedish Royal House of Bernadotte, closely related to the King of Sweden. They are entitled to royal titles and style , and some perform official engagements and ceremonial duties of state...
(of the Bernadotte
Bernadotte
The House of Bernadotte, the current royal house of Sweden, has reigned since 1818. Between 1818 and 1905, it was also the royal house of the Norway...
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
Pétanque
Pétanque is a form of boules where the goal is, while standing inside a starting circle with both feet on the ground, to throw hollow metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball called a cochonnet or jack. It is also sometimes called a bouchon or le petit...
in Sainte Maxime is named after the Prince as he was a regular player appreciating the uncomplicated varm reception of the village locals.
Raoul Nordling
Raoul Nordling
Raoul Nordling was a Swedish businessman and diplomat. He was born in Paris and spent most of his life there....
was the Swedish consul in Paris 1944 that made great efforts to save Paris and it's citicens during the late phase of the Second World War. He persuaded General Choltitz
Dietrich von Choltitz
General der Infanterie Dietrich von Choltitz was the German military governor of Paris during the closing days of the German occupation of that city during World War II...
to disobey Hitler's orders to destroy the French capital and many and many lives were saved before General Eisenhover approved to General Leclerc and de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
to enter the city . Norling had a house in Sainte-Maxime Le Mas you Gay Savoir and was also named an honorary citizen. Part of the road to Grimaud
Grimaud, Var
Grimaud is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.It is located on the French Riviera. The village of Grimaud is a perched village, with historical links to the Grimaldi family. Gibelin de Grimaldi aided William the Good drive the Saracens of...
is named after him.
Léon Gaumont
Léon Gaumont
Léon Gaumont was a French inventor, engineer, and industrialist who was a pioneer of the motion picture industry....
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
Louis Feuillade
Louis Feuillade was a prolific and prominent French film director from the silent era. Between 1906 and 1924 he directed over 630 films...
that was shot in part in Sainte-Maxime. The castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
- with new buildings - is now a holiday resort. Léon Gaumont died in Sainte-Maxime 1946.
Paul Géraldy or Paul Lefevre (1885–1983) is a French poet and playwright. He had a house in Sainte Maxime named Toi et moi (Me and You) who took its name from his second book that was his breakthrough. The house is located east of the village above the Madrague beach and now split into apartments.
Victor Margueritte
Victor Margueritte
Victor Margueritte and his brother Paul Margueritte, , French novelists, both born in Algeria, were the sons of General Jean Auguste Margueritte , who after an honorable career in Algeria was mortally wounded in the great cavalry charge at Sedan, and died in Belgium, on September 6, 1870...
(1866–1942) was a French Novelist and a frequent guest of 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
Michel Constantin
Michel Constantin was a French film actor.-Biography:Born to a Russian father and a Polish mother in Billancourt , Constantin made his first film appearance in 1956. His first credited role was in the prison breakout drama Le Trou in 1960.-External links:...
(1924–2003) was a French movie actor. He was a frequent guest of Sainte-Maxime where he owned a villa at Beauvallon.
Sister cites
Sainte-Maxime is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with: Bellport
Bellport, New York
Bellport is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 2,363 at the 2000 census. The village is named after the Bell family, early settlers of the area. The public education system in Bellport makes up the South Country Central School District consisting of six...
Neuenbürg
Neuenbürg
Neuenbürg is a town in the Enz district, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated on the river Enz, 10 km southwest of Pforzheim.The town has three stops, Neuenbürg, Neuenbürg Süd and Neuenbürg Freibad, on route S6 of the Karlsruhe Stadtbahn, which operates over the Enztalbahn railway....