Cavalaire-sur-Mer is probably derived from an ancient Phoenician colony of the name of Heraclea Caccabaria. There are also remains of a Gallo-Roman occupation in
Pardigon. The town was detached from
Gassin in 1929. It is located on the route of the old railway
Saint Raphael–
Toulon (sometimes called Train Pignes), now defunct. The old railway line can still be seen throughout the town, with the old station situated near the harbour and now hosting a museum. During
World War II, on August 16, 1944, it was one of the sites of a beach landing in
Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion of southern France. Every year, August 15 sees a parade of military vehicles and the reconstruction of a military camp. Its sister city is
New Port Richey, Florida in the
United States. ==Population==