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 
9 responses to “Market Day in Sanary-sur-Mer”
oh yes Le Chirunga is something else, it’s just not food, it’s an experience. 🙂
For sure Kenya, it’s THE place for Sanary – good food + moderate price. We’ll have to go back when you return!
ohhh forgot to mention, i really like your models. lol.
Yep, we’ve got some pretty good-looking folks who come to visit…& I think we’ve still got your limoncello bottle here!
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.
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.
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!
I’ve heard of the town, it’s so nice to get a glimpse of it through the markets!
You would love it Corinne – Sanary is the sort of picture-perfect village we all dream about!