Sanary-sur-Mer, Mediterranean coastal commune in Var department, France
Sanary-sur-Mer is a coastal commune on the Mediterranean in Var department, where a harbor sits between low hills and open sea. Pastel-colored houses with shutters line the waterfront promenade, while palm trees and plane trees cast shade over cafés and shops that open toward the water.
The settlement separated from Ollioules in 1688 through a royal decree by Louis XIV and developed into a fishing harbor. During the 1930s, German intellectuals and writers including Thomas Mann found refuge here from persecution by the Nazi regime.
Fishermen still work with colorful pointus, the traditional wooden boats of Provence, bringing their catch straight to the harbor each morning. The quay serves as a meeting point for locals who gather here between market days to share news and watch the rhythm of life along the water.
The harbor fish market runs daily in the morning and offers fresh catch directly from local boats. On Wednesdays, a larger weekly market with regional produce and crafts opens in the streets near the water.
The Frédéric Dumas International Diving Museum displays early equipment and developments that Jacques Cousteau and his team tested nearby. The collection documents experiments with breathing apparatus and underwater cameras that took place in the waters off this coast.
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