It goes without saying, that in a region full of beautiful towns, it’s hard to pick a favorite from all the seaside “stars” that glitter along the Cote d’ Azur. Well, I guess it “should” be hard, but instead I’ve fallen quite in amour with the sleepy seaside village of Sanary-sur-Mer. Now all I need is a winning French lottery ticket and a modest house with an ocean view.
One of the most picturesque towns in the Var, Sanary-sur-Mer enjoys a privileged location along the Mediterranean and is just 5 short kilometers from the well-known coastal town of Bandol. Preferred by locals & tourists alike, the large, bustling market draws a considerable crowd each week. As cars wind in from neighboring villages & the nearby autoroute, arriving early is definitely recommended.
Where:
The “place” (square) of the Tower to the bottom of the aisles Etiennes Orves.
When:
Every morning until mid-day. Wednesday the market about triples in size, same hours apply.
What:
Typical Provencal market of fruits, vegetables, fish, and specialty foodstuffs from a crew of loyal sellers.
On Wednesday, you’ll find additional stalls, covering everything from cotton dresses to Corsican sausages. You may even be fortunate enough to stumble upon a local winery offering tastings – the domaine Le Galantin has often been known to make an appearance.
Special Interest:
The market provides a perfect excuse to blend a morning of shopping with a trip to any of Sanary’s portside cafés. Cafes like Le Sport are a great place to have take a break over a glass of rosé, or just watch other bargain hunters on the prowl. There are many opportunities for wandering through Sanary’s backstreets to discover French “shabby-chic” treasures in the town’s numerous boutiques. Several good restaurants are tucked behind alleyways, one favorite to try is Le Chirunga.
Bon shopping!
Belle Provence Travels 
oh yes Le Chirunga is something else, it’s just not food, it’s an experience. 🙂
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For sure Kenya, it’s THE place for Sanary – good food + moderate price. We’ll have to go back when you return!
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ohhh forgot to mention, i really like your models. lol.
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Yep, we’ve got some pretty good-looking folks who come to visit…& I think we’ve still got your limoncello bottle here!
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Thanks Amy & it’s true, I never heard of Sanary until I moved here. I’ve seen lots of English and German tourists there, but not a whole lot of Americans – we have to get the word out, it’s really a gem of a town.
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First time I’ve heard about a small town or village that has a daily market, albeit it gets much bigger on Wednesday. We have not explored the coast at all except for many visits to Cassis.
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It’s true, Michel, you don’t usually find a daily market. I think that speaks to the popularity of Sanary. In fact, we were there yesterday, Saturday, and the “smaller” market was in full swing. Picked up a lovely artichoke spread – delicious!
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I’ve heard of the town, it’s so nice to get a glimpse of it through the markets!
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You would love it Corinne – Sanary is the sort of picture-perfect village we all dream about!
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