The beaches of Sainte-Maxime, from La Croisette to La Nartelle

Five minutes by car to have your feet in the water, twelve minutes on foot to La Croisette.

Further along, La Garonnette and Les Éléphants close the bay. These beaches stay quiet even at the height of summer, because nobody passes through them by chance: you go there on purpose. Parking there is easier than in the town centre, and the view over the gulf of Saint-Tropez is at its widest.

Out of season, you can walk the whole of this coastline. The seafront promenade links the harbour to the first beaches without ever leaving the water's edge. It is our tenants' favourite walk on a Sunday morning, and it is also the one that gives you the best sense of the town before you sign a tenancy.

The beaches out of season, the other half of the year

From October to May, the seven kilometres of coastline change use completely. The beach bars close, parking becomes easy again, and the promenade belongs to the residents, the runners and the dogs.

That is the time of year when you understand why people settle here for good rather than come for a fortnight. The sea is the same, the light is better, and there is nobody about.

Keep that in mind when you choose your home: an address ten minutes' walk from the coast serves you twelve months a year, not two, and it costs no more out of season.

Which beach, from where

From the Domaine des Coralies, in the Préconil valley, La Croisette is about twelve minutes' walk away. By car, La Nartelle takes five minutes. It is the best compromise in our portfolio for anyone who wants the beach without depending on a parking space.

From the chemin des Virgiles and the Domaine du Préconil, the journey looks much the same. You go down towards the centre, then follow the seafront. So a late afternoon at the beach needs no planning at all.

From route du Plan de la Tour, you need a car. Allow a few minutes to reach the seafront, and a little longer for the Garonnette. In return, you come home to silence and greenery. Finally, from rue Léon Gaumont, you can walk to the Croisette in under ten minutes.

Public beach or beach club

The coastline alternates between public stretches and private beaches. On a public stretch, you put your towel down without booking and without paying. At a beach club, you hire a sunlounger and have lunch with your feet in the sand. Both exist side by side, in particular at the Nartelle.

In practice, residents mostly use the public stretches. Indeed, you go for an hour after work, without booking. The beach clubs suit weekend lunches and visiting guests instead.

Out of season, the question disappears. Most private beaches close, and the whole coastline becomes public again. Moreover, parking becomes easy again everywhere, including in front of the Nartelle.

Swimming safely

The bay of Sainte-Maxime is sheltered, and the slope stays gentle along most of the coastline. That is what makes the area popular with families. Lifeguards cover the main beaches in season, at the times posted on site.

The wind, however, deserves attention. The mistral sometimes picks up suddenly and pushes out to sea. Therefore, keep an eye on the flags and on paddleboards: that is the only real local risk, and it mainly concerns floating craft.

Out of season, no lifeguards are on duty. In practical terms, you swim less far, and rarely alone. The same rule applies to a morning swim in October, which remains one of the great pleasures here.

The seafront

The promenade links the harbour to the first beaches without ever leaving the water's edge. People run there, walk there and take the dog there out of season. It is our tenants' favourite route on a Sunday morning.

It also gives the best sense of the town before you sign a tenancy agreement. In an hour on foot, you see the harbour, the centre, the market and the first beach. You therefore understand the distances better than on a map.

Finally, the seafront links the neighbourhoods together. From the centre, you can cycle to the Nartelle along the seafront path. Many of our tenants have made it their daily route to work.

The harbour

The marina separates the town centre from the first beach. You walk along the quaysides, you look at the boats, and you catch the ferry to Saint-Tropez. It is the natural meeting point of the town.

The terraces stay open for much of the year. In winter, the area becomes calm and bright again. So a walk around the harbour in January is well worth it.

From rue Léon Gaumont, allow a few minutes on foot. From the Préconil valley or chemin des Virgiles, a quarter of an hour. Moreover, the seafront promenade links it all together without ever leaving the water's edge.

The sea through the seasons

Swimming starts in May for the brave, in June for everyone else. The sea warms up slowly, then holds its heat until October. September remains the best month of the year for swimming.

In winter, the sea drops noticeably, but the coast stays usable. People walk there, run there and fish there. Moreover, the winter sunsets over the gulf rank among the finest.

The wind shapes everything. The mistral clears the sky and raises a short sea; the easterly brings damp air. In practice, residents check the marine forecast before taking out a paddleboard.

A day out of season

You set off on foot or by bike, without worrying about parking. You put your towel down wherever you like, because everything is public. You head home for lunch, or you stop at the harbour.

That is exactly what our tenants describe when we ask them what they prefer here. This is not summer: it is how easy the rest of the year feels. A visit in October therefore convinces more than a visit in August.

One last practical point: the showers and first-aid posts close out of season. So bring something to rinse off with. That is the only real drawback of the late-season beach.

What to bring

In summer, plan for shade: a parasol or a light tent changes a whole day. Water is available on site, but natural shade stays rare on the sand. Moreover, set off early for the parking.

In spring and autumn, a windproof jacket is often enough. The mistral picks up fast and cools things down at once. So a fine October day can turn chilly within an hour.

Out of season, the showers and first-aid posts close. So bring something to rinse off with. In practice, that is the only real drawback of the winter beach.

A claim you can check

All our developments sit less than five minutes by car from a beach. Three of them let you walk there. That is a fact you can check, and we state it on every listing.

It counts for more than people think in a year-round tenancy. Indeed, a beach ten minutes away gets used all year; a beach thirty minutes away becomes a Sunday outing. Distance therefore decides how often you go.

To compare our homes on this point, open their listings side by side. Floor area, rent, service charges, parking and distance to the sea all appear there. Moreover, a budget calculator gives you your rent-to-income ratio in two clicks.

In short

Seven kilometres of coastline, from the Croisette to the Éléphants, and four clearly different types of beach. The Croisette for everyday swims and young children. The Nartelle for a full day and water sports. The Garonnette and the Éléphants for quiet and for the view.

All our developments sit less than five minutes by car from one of them, and three let you walk there. Out of season, the whole coastline becomes public and free again. The beach therefore becomes a daily habit rather than an outing.

To compare our homes, open the page of flats to let. Each listing gives the floor area, the rent, the service charges, the parking and the availability. Moreover, a budget calculator works out your rent-to-income ratio.

Frequently asked questions