Beaches are the main attraction here. Of the four nearby, two are an easy walk from the town center. Across the road from the casino is Plage du Casino -- we advise avoiding it because of the fumes from the nearby roadway, the narrow sands, and the hordes of sunbathers. A better bet is Plage de la Croisette, a wider, nominally less-congested expanse that's a 2-minute walk west of Plage du Casino. The most appealing beaches are Plage de la Nartelle and the adjacent Plage des Eléphants, with broad expanses of clean, fine-textured light-beige sand about 2km (1 1/4 miles) west of town. To reach them, follow signs along the coastal road pointing to St-Tropez. Here you can rent a mattress for sunbathing from any of several concessionaires for around 15€ to 20€ ($20-$26) depending on the beach.
Start with the 16th-century La Tour Carrée des Dames (Dames Tower) at place des Aliziers. It was originally a defensive structure; today it's home to the Musée des Traditions Locales, place de l'Eglise (tel. 04-94-96-70-30), with exhibits on the area's history and tradition. The museum is open Wednesday to Monday during July and August from 10am to noon and 3 to 7pm, and September to June from 10am to noon and 3 to 6pm only. Admission is 2.30€ ($3) for adults and .75€ ($1) for children 11 and under.
Facing the tower is the Eglise Ste-Maxime, place des Aliziers (tel. 04-94-49-06-67), with a green marble altar from the former Carthusian monastery of La Verne in the Massif des Maures. The choir stalls date from the 15th century.
St-Maxime hosts various markets, including a daily flower-and-food market on rue Fernand-Bessy every Tuesday to Sunday 8am to 3pm (June-Sept, daily 8am-1pm and 4-8pm). On Thursday, a crafts market is held on and around place du Marché; on Friday morning (8am-noon), vendors sell a variety of knickknacks on place Jean-Mermoz. In the pedestrian streets of the old town, an arts-and-crafts fair takes place daily in summer from 5 to 11pm.
Outside town are several worthy sights. About 10km (6 miles) north on the road to Muy (Route de Muy) is the Musée du Phonographe et de la Musique Méchanique (tel. 04-94-96-50-52). This extensive display of audio equipment is the result of one woman's 40-year obsession. Sometimes she gives personal tours. In the museum is one of Edison's original "talking machines" and an audiovisual pathegraphe used to teach foreign languages in 1913. The museum is open Easter through October only, Wednesday through Sunday from 10am to noon and 3:30 to 6pm. During July and August, it's open from 10am to noon and from 4 to 6:30pm. Admission is 3€ ($3.90) for adults and 1.50€ ($1.95) for children 5 to 12 years.
If you're a nature lover, follow the signs along boulevard Bellevue for 1.5km (1 mile) north of town to the little town of Sémaphore. Here you'll find panoramic views along many hiking trails that wind along the coast or into the mountains, reaching an altitude of 120m (400 ft.). The tourist office has maps, or you can head for the Sentier du Littoral (Chemin des Douaniers), a trail that meanders along the coast toward St-Tropez and has access to the sea at almost all points along the way.
