History of Ste-Maxime

century it started to attract artists, poets and writers who enjoyed the climate, the beautiful surroundings and the azure 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. "Attack Force Delta", based around the 45th Division, 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 honouring 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