Sanary Sur Mer

Sanary Sur Mer is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in south eastern France. It is located in coastal Provence on the Mediterranean Sea 13km from Toulon and 49km from Marseille.

Sanary Sur Mer is a quaint fishing village, many streets are pedestrian only and lined with shops and bakeries.

Local attractions include the Gothic Revival St Nazaire Church in the small harbour, which features beautiful frescoes and not far from town, the 15th century Notre-Dame-de-Pitie Chapel, which has great views of the sea and port.

The ruins of a medieval tower are the centre of the area museum that features ship wreck treasures discovered by Jacques Cousteau.

During the first part of World War II, a number of exile German writers stayed in Sanary and their lives are featured at the city's Media Museum.

The small Jardin Exotique zoo may keep families with small children happy for a couple of hours.

Nearby places to visit include the small city of Aix, which has long been the residence of artists and students, Marseilles with it's iconic symbol - the Byzantine styled Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde basilica and Bandol, a beach resort town.

Sanary has a beautiful coastline with small beaches. It is regularly swept by the Mistral, a strong wind coming from the Rhone Valley, making it a favourite destination for windsurfers.

Sanary has an abundance of stores, selling a variety of souvenirs, clothing and gifts. The largest market in Sanary is held every Wednesday, with hundreds of stall selling items ranging from fresh fruit, vegetables, spices and meat to souvenirs, clothing, pottery and jewellery.

Fresh fish and seafood such as seabass, prawns and scallops as well as international favourite such as pizza and pasta can be found on local menus.

Cruise ships generally anchor and tender passengers ashore.

Sanary Sur Mer Port is located only a few minutes walk from the centre of town.

Taxis are available near the Tourist Office 50m from the tender dock. Taxis have meters, but there are special fares for certain destinations.