Le Belvédère is set in an exclusive neighbourhood of Sainte-Maxime, a short stroll down the hill to the shops, restaurants and beaches of this charming French Riviera resort overlooking the gulf of Saint-Tropez.
A relaxed town compared to glitzier Saint-Tropez just across the bay, Sainte-Maxime is a lovely place to spend time, backed by beautiful hills and enjoying a sunny climate. The old town is attractive with its café and restaurant terraces which come to life on summer evenings, a daily covered market (five mornings a week in winter) and a larger market on a Thursday morning showcasing the best regional produce.
The town’s main sandy beach is next to the picturesque port and is home to a small handful of beachside restaurants whilst slightly further south is Plage de la Croisette and Sainte-Maxime’s sailing club. Just north of the town, come across the long sandy beach of Plage de la Nartelle (3km), loved especially by families and windsurfing enthusiasts or seek out the wilder shores around La Pointe des Sardinaux (3km), the last part reached only on foot and popular with snorkellers.
There are also ample opportunities for summer boat trips – Saint-Tropez is just a 20-minute ferry ride away or take a private excursion to explore this gorgeous coastline either north around Saint-Raphaël and the Esterel calanques or south towards Port Grimaud, Saint-Tropez and beyond.
Golf-lovers can play at the 18-hole Golf Blue Green Sainte-Maxime course or the prestigious Beauvallon Golf Club, both around 5km away. Other outdoor activities include wonderful walking trails in the hills, cycling, horse-riding as well as a wealth of summer watersports in or around Sainte-Maxime such as stand-up paddle boarding, sea-kayaking, pedalo hire and diving as well as wake-boarding and water-skiing.
Discover the glamour of Saint-Tropez (16km), one of the French Riviera’s most famous towns, with its boutiques, high-end restaurants and impressive marina alongside its characterful old quarter and bustling twice-weekly market at Place des Lices. If driving, combine with a trip to one of the exclusive beach clubs of Pampelonne Beach (20km) or venture to the wild shores and beautiful landscapes around La Croix Valmer, Plage de Gigaro and Plage d’Héraclée, an area also ideal for keen hikers and wine lovers.
Flower-filled Grimaud (13km) is an old Provençal village with stunning views down to the coast, a delightful spot for a gourmet lunch or just a potter around its medieval lanes. Ramatuelle (17km) and Gassin (15km) are two other picture-perfect hilltop villages in this part of the French Riviera, or visit Port-Grimaud (10km), a unique seaside town, also known as the ‘little Venice of Provence’, where you can explore its canals by boat.
Heading north, experience the French Riviera charm of Saint-Raphaël (24km) and historic Fréjus (22km) or you could even spend the day in Cannes (60km), around an hour away by car via the autoroute through the Massif de l'Esterel.
The Region
Once a traditional fishing village, Saint-Tropez is now one of the most glamourous destinations of the Côte d’Azur and welcomes visitors from across the world.
However, there’s more to Saint-Tropez bay than exclusive beach clubs, glitzy boutiques and fine dining restaurants. From the family-friendly beaches of Sainte-Maxime to the vineyards of La Croix Valmer, Oliver’s Travels guests can truly admire this enchanting corner of the French Riviera whilst staying in one of our handpicked villas in and around Saint-Tropez.
Soak up the luxurious yet laidback vibe of Saint-Tropez as you wander around its marina lined with huge yachts contrasting colourful fishermen’s houses overlooking the bay. The old quarter is a warren of winding lanes with French designer boutiques, picturesque cafes and restaurants whilst Place des Lices hosts a vibrant Provençal market on a Tuesday and Saturday morning. Enjoy the most glorious vistas from Saint-Tropez’s 17th century citadel and maritime museum. Boat trips are another superb way to tour this part of the coast and passenger ferries cross the bay.
Just south of the town, follow Brigitte Bardot’s footsteps as you visit one of Plage de Pampelonne’s exclusive beach clubs, the most famous being Le Club 55 (always book well in advance). Stretching over 5km, Pampelonne’s long sandy beach is also loved for its vast range of summer watersports including jet-skiing, windsurfing and paddleboarding.
The picture-perfect villages of Saint-Tropez bay are beautifully located to make the most of the French Riviera scenery. On the hillside overlooking Plage de Pampelonne, Ramatuelle has attracted artists and writers over the years and is full of charm – look out for performances during its theatre and jazz festivals in the summer months. Meanwhile, hilltop Gassin is classified as one of France’s 'Plus Beaux Villages’ whilst flower-filled Grimaud is such a pretty medieval village with yet more stunning views of the coast.
Driving into the Maures hills, discover the characterful villages of La Garde-Freinet and Le Plan-de-la-Tour surrounded by oak and chestnut forests, a paradise for hikers, mountain bikers, horse-riding enthusiasts and other outdoor adventurists.
Back to the coast, take a boat tour of Port Grimaud, known as the ‘little Venice of the Côte d’Azur’, and experience its atmospheric Monday evening summer market. Across the other side of the bay, Sainte-Maxime is a lovely sheltered seaside town with pretty cafes, a daily market and gorgeous beaches. Families adore this area – there are tree-top adventures, tennis, mini-golf, a water park and coastal paths for biking and hiking.
Golf-lovers can appreciate a choice of courses – Golf Blue Green as well as the prestigious Beauvallon Golf Club and Golf Club Saint-Tropez. Wine connoisseurs should head to the wine châteaux of Saint-Tropez and Pampelonne as well as the vineyards of La Croix Valmer.
Not forgetting the idyllic shores of soft sand and crystal-clear sea of La Croix Valmer’s coastline from Plage de Sylvabelle to Plage de Gigaro, also home to a wonderful coastal walking trail with the most incredible flora and fauna alongside sensational views of the Mediterranean as you hike towards Cap Lardier and beyond.
