The unmissable : Sanary
This typically Provençal village nestled on the outskirts of the metropolitan area of Toulon is one of the pearls of the Var coast. Renowned for its port and its mythical points of interest, its market among the most beautiful in France, its eight kilometers of beach and its rich cultural heritage, Sanary-sur-mer is a must, an incarnation of the french “dolce vita”.
You have to live this unique experience: getting lost in the colorful alleys of the historic city center, strolling along the narrow passages that open onto squares and their facades in shimmering colors. Cool off near one of the many fountains before heading to one of the most typical ports on the coast, one of the last of its kind. So feel the essences of the one that was recently voted the most beautiful market in France, while keeping an eye on the masts of the pointus, these classified fishing boats. The oldest ones boast over a century of existence, and continue to stock the stalls with the best local fish products on a daily basis. In summer, the city adorns itself in its finery and enjoys a warm, dynamic and relaxed atmosphere. After a day at the beach, in Portissol for example, the most famous, summer visitors fill the alleys and take over the port which hosts the colorful night craft market dedicated to local artists. Festivals, concerts, rosé tastings, the entertainment is numerous and punctuates the evenings, inviting strolling and blissful wonder, out of time.
Yes, Sanary is an unforgettable experience, a unique atmosphere marked by the history of fishermen, but also of the diving pioneers of the 1930s, to whom the “Mousquemers” of Commander Cousteau succeeded. Frédéric Dumas, the local of the stage who participated in the adventure of the first autonomous spacesuit developed by the commander in the red cap even has his museum in the heart of the city.
To complete the experience, readers will happily immerse themselves in the literary works of the many authors who have lived here. Some to escape the repression of the Nazis, such as the Nobel Prize winner Thomas Mann, but also Lion Feuchtwanger. Others for personal convenience, like Aldous Huxley, who wrote here in the early 1930s his hit "Brave New World", still considered one of the greatest science fiction novels today.
