Sue Aitken is a bit of an expert on the Provence region of France, having travelled extensively in the region over a number of years.She fell in love with Provence many years ago when she was spending a year abroad as part of her French degree. A friend invited her to join her on a visit to her brother's house in Sanary sur Mer and she was absolutely blown away by the colours and vibrancy of this small fishing port and the surrounding scenery. She returned to Sanary some time later when she was looking to buy a flat in the area – and was delighted that nothing much had changed in the intervening years. She recently set up an online shop www.boutiqueprovencale.co.uk where she features a range of products from the region, sourced from small suppliers who are passionate about what they do.
This picturesque fishing port is often overlooked by visitors to this part of Provence, but to my mind it's got far more character and is much more authentic than its more glamorous and better-known neightbour Bandol. The best time to visit Sanary is in May, June or September as it gets very busy with visiting Parisians during July and August.There are a number of beaches in the vicinity - either to the west below the road to Bandol or alternatively to the east along the road to neighbouring Six Fours.
It's simply brimming with good restaurants...Un Coin de Table on rue Siat Marcellin has quite a creative menu - kind of "French Fusion" cuisine. And around the corner, Le Cauri on rue Laget serves really tasty dishes from Africa - they do a great couscous. For delicious fish and seafood, you can't get much better than the restaurant at Hotel de la Tour, plonk on the port and a wonderfully atmospheric place for dinner. My favourite spot for people-watching is the terrace at Bar du Sport - excellent rose and delicious olives!
Sanary is wonderful for shopping - there's a variety of boutiques selling just about everything. By far my favourite is la Fee Follette on boulevard Estienne d'Orves, just across the road from the daily food market. Mathilde Chetrit, a talented artist, sells a wide range of unusual items - bags, jewellery, clothes and home accessories. She also takes commissions on mosaic items such as mirrors and tables.
Sue Aitken is the owner of Boutique Provencale which offers French Gifts and French Home Accessories.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- Boutique Hotels – Attracting Every Segment of Travelers
- Boutique Hotels - From Innovative Concept to Traveler's Mainstay
- Why are Boutique Hotels Becoming the Preferred Choice for All Travelers?
- Boutique Hotels on the Rise
- Boutique hotels in London – An Incredible Experience
- Exclusive Boutique Style Bali Hotels
- Feel Like Royalty in Boutique Hotel Suites
- Why Stay in a Boutique Hotel in France?
Skiing or Snowboarding at Big White
By: Edward Smith | 01/12/2009Skiing and snowboarding has never been more popular with people in the UK. This has been largely driven in recent years by the increasing amount of low cost, budget holidays available in Europe. Traditional skiing countries such as France, Austria and Switzerland have now been joined by Andorra, and an increasing number of Eastern European countries such as Bulgaria.
Langtang Region Trekking Nepal
By: Aaozora Dreamland Trek | 01/12/2009The region features sharp difference to the other region trekking in Nepal. Langtang region, combination of three large administrative districts lies north of Kathmandu and is area known for easy access, if not by flights, the local buses and taxis. The pin point attractions of the region is the mountains ranges to north and the holy lakes to south including beautiful Sherpa village on trail head.
Ho Chi Minh Trail Vietnam, from soldier's road to tourist highway
By: Activetravel Asia | 01/12/2009HO CHI MINH HIGHWAY, Vietnam — If relentless American bombing didn't get him, it would take a North Vietnamese soldier as long as six months to make the grueling trek down the jungled Ho Chi Minh Trail. Today, you speed along the same route at 60 mph, past peaceful hamlets and stunning mountain scenery.
Wander Kadaku National Park
By: greengirl sydney | 01/12/2009Not only distinguished by its size, but Kadaku National Park like the Yellowstone features uniqueness with excessive beatuty that only fills when you start opening your doors for it. More likely to be pictured as an extension of the wild of Arnhem Land
Go Scuba Diving At Nigi Nigi Too! this Christmas
By: Ace | 01/12/2009Boracay is a magnificent national marine preserve and one of the most popular Philippine scuba diving areas in Southeast Asia with currently thirty state-of-the-art dive schools
Vacationing in Nice and Cote d'Azur
By: Robb | 30/11/2009Nice is the center of the French Riviera - the Cote d'Azur - and makes for an excellent location to set up base for your experience of the area.
A Visit to Kennedy Space Center will Launch a New Perspective on America's Space Program
By: Kirby Collins | 30/11/2009At the Space Center you can walk around outside at your leisure and see the rockets on display, they call it the rocket garden which is pretty funny considering how tall these things are. Now when I say you get to tour them I mean you can crawl into some of them and take a picture, believe me I have more that a few shots of me hanging out of one space capsule or another.
Getting in and around the"Lost Paradise on Earth" : New Zealand ( NZ )
By: Search Cheap Flights | 30/11/2009New Zealand known as "The land of the long white cloud" is a famous travel destination for many. It is a country with stunning and diverse natural beauty, Soaring mountain peaks, fiords, lakes, rivers, and active volcanic features. The mesmerizing landscape of country has won many titles for the land such as "God's own country" and the "Paradise of the Pacific". New Zealand has been named as "the world’s top Travel Destination" (2003/2004) consecutively by ...
An Insider's Guide to Provence - Le Castellet
By: Sue Aitken | 28/03/2009 | DestinationsA guide to the picturesque hilltop village of Le Castellet in Provence.
An Insider's Guide to Provence - Sanary Sur Mer
By: Sue Aitken | 28/03/2009 | DestinationsA guide to the picturesque fishing port of Sanary sur Mer in Provence.