Saint Paul-de-Vence

Towns and Villages - by Provence Beyond

Villages > Saint Paul-de-Vence      

Nearby:  | Antibes Juan-les-Pins 18 km | Chateauneuf-Grasse 17 km | La Colle-sur-Loup 3 km | Grasse 29 km | Nice 18 km | Opio 17 km | Saint Jeannet 12 km | Tourrettes-sur-Loup 9 km | Vence 4 km |

Below: | Museums | History | O.T. | Dates | Sports | Hiking | Dining | Lodging Hotels |

Although the village itself is one of the most intact medieval examples of the region, with much of the ramparts still there, it's hard to see anything inside the village except other tourists. "Off season", the village is full of tourists. During the summer and holidays, the village is so packed with tourists that they walk shoulder-to-shoulder through the narrow streets. Except for the ramparts and the typical old houses, the most predominant things to see in the village are the scores of art galleries, tourist shops, pseudo "artisanal" shops; all very expensive.

Vence, 3 km up the road, is also beautiful, more relaxed, has more realistic shops and art galleries, and fine terrace cafés.
Tourrettes-sur-Loup, another 3 km west of Vence, is small and picturesque like St. Paul, but with far fewer tourists, and the artisanal shops there are run by the artists themselves.

The Russian born painter Mark Chagall is buried in the Saint Paul-de-Vence cemetery. At the entrance, take the first right and the next left. Chagall has a simple white tomb. The small stones are added by visitors as tributes (from a Russian and Jewish tradition).

Museums & Sites

Fondation Maeght

Located just outside the village on the La Colle road, then up the side road at the first bend (a modern sculpture is at the junction).

This museum is world-renowned, and deserves the reputation. The collection of 20th-century paintings, sculptures and ceramics is extensive and excellent, and the museum setting, inside and outside, is beautiful: light, running water, trees, shade, grass, nature and peace.

tel: (33) 493 32 81 63

Open: daily; Oct-June: 10h -12h30, 14h30-18h; July-Sept: 10h-19h

Musée d'Histoire Locale

In the center of the village, opposite the church

Includes wax figures in period costumes

tel: (33) 493 32 53 09

Open: daily; mid-June--mid-Sept: 10h-19h; mid-Sept--mid-June: 10h-17h30; closed: mid-Nov--mid-Dec.

Musée Municipal

Located just inside the village, on the Rue Grande

Contains exhibits by contemporary artists.

tel: (33) 493 32 86 96

Open: daily; mid-June--mid-Sept: 10h-19h; mid-Sept--mid-June: 10h-12h, 14h-18h; closed: mid-Nov--mid-Dec.

History

Name
First record, 11th century: Castrum Sancti Pauli

Medieval: The village was fortified in the 13th century. In the 16th century, St. Paul was ruled by the Lords of Grasse-Bar, and then became a Royal Village. In 1537, François 1st built a second wall to completely enclose the village. Several hundred houses had to be destroyed, and the inhabitants moved down to the lower lands, where La Colle is now located.

Office de Tourisme

Tel : 0493 32 86 95; Fax: 04 93 32 60 27

Email: artdevivre@wanadoo.fr

Mairie
Tel: 0493 32 80 83

Dates

Every June - Fete de la Musique
Every June - Fete, Feux de la St Jean

Sports

Camping

Hiking

Maps:

IGN (1/25,000) #3643 ET "Cannes, Grasse, Côte d'Azur"

Didier Richard (1/50,000) #26 "Pay d'Azur"

There's no real hiking here, but some country walks can be nice.
The walk along the road between St. Paul and Vence is pretty, but summer traffic can be annoying.
There is one trail going down into the valley, from near the new parking lot at the north end of the village; you can either go down and back, or continue through the residential roads and up to Vence.
The small road that goes past the Fondation Maeght goes up through the woods and there's not much traffic there.

Dining

Le Colombe d'Or

Location: Place du General-de-Gaulle

Tel: 0493 328 002; Fax: 04 93 32 77 78

A lovely shady terrace and garden; art work by Picasso, Léger, Miró, Roualt; Provencal dining; valet parking. (where the stars eat, and stay)

Mas d'Artigny

Location: Route de La Colle

Tel: 0493 328 454; Fax: 04 93 32 95 36

Located in a big, rambling building well off the beaten track in the forested countryside.

Lodging - Hotels