Up on a hilltop in beautiful Provence,… you’ll find a pretty medieval village with fortified walls overlooking one of the most beautiful regions in the South of France. It is called: Saint-Paul-De-Vence (or just Saint Paul).
The most well-known reason would be the fact that famous artists like Picasso, Modigliani, Dufy, and Matisse all lived in Saint-Paul-de-Vence for a while. Marc Chagall (an artist who died here in Saint Paul on 28 March 1985) also lived here and is buried in the pretty local cemetery.
These days the village is filled with fabulous art galleries and studios. If you love art this is the place to visit. It is a pleasure just walking down the main road (Rue Grande) which is filled with art studios. But for all the rest it is a beautiful well-preserved town, that is clean, interesting, and almost like something out of a fairytale storybook.
How to get there:
Saint–Paul–de–Vence is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of Southeastern France.
It is only a 1-hour bus drive from Nice, between Cagnes-sur-Mer and Vence, and it is actually a good idea to take the bus here, as the village is a vehicle-free zone in any way.
Should you hire a car, Saint-Paul-de-Vence is about 34 min (19,6 km) via Voie Pierre Mathis/Voie Rapide by car from Nice.
The pedestrianized streets of Saint-Paul-de-Vence and the fact that is a really tiny little village, make it easy to explore on foot.
Travel Tip: Bring your best walking shoes as you’ll have to walk a bit uphill at times and there are a few steps, but nothing major.
The cobblestone streets are all like artworks themselves and all along your walk you will be mesmerized by the beautiful sandstone buildings, which have been beautifully restored and cared for. The village is really one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe, and dare we say also one of the most beautiful villages in France.
You don’t have to worry about getting lost. The village is clearly defined by the wall surrounding it, so you don’t even need a map to navigate and explore. Just enjoy walking around and having a look at all the pretty shops and buildings.
France is synonymous with the best fragrances in the world:
Keep a lookout for, and take the staircase leading up to the wall which has a viewing platform. From there you’ll have spectacular views for yet more beautiful photos.
And When Is The Best Time To Go
You can explore the village in about 2 hours without rushing everything – BUT we would recommend spending a bit more time. You can even overnight in the village which will give you more time to explore. (Recommendations below)
Travelers say the best time to visit St Paul de Vence is during November & December if you’re looking for some quiet time, however, you might find that some places are closed during this time.
Therefore we would recommend October. Taking into consideration that >2.5 m people visit St Paul during the year, it is also a good idea to start exploring early in the morning before the rush.
You actually cannot get lost in this village, but should you need one, the tourism office will be able to provide you with a map of the village that includes all the main tourist sites. Then you can follow the heritage signage from the Tourist office – in correspondence to the map.
As you explore, you’ll find lots of fabulous restaurants. Stop to buy some olive oil and perfume, and visit the craft shops, gifts, ceramics, herbs, and more. There are fabulous shops of the highest quality and you definitely have to buy some freshly baked panini. (Especially if you’re there for the day, or buy some on your way home for a snack.)
Just outside of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, you’ll find more adventure:
Now that is how you end a day…
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Some units have a terrace and/or a balcony with beautiful mountain views.
The bed and breakfast offers an à la carte or Full English/Irish breakfast.
Stay overnight in true French style and luxury in this 5-star hotel in Saint Paul de Vence. This is the place to be – check out the link above for more photos.
Hotel Le Saint Paul is also an excellent option when it comes to deciding where to eat. Serving light Mediterranean meals.
Only a 25 minute drive from Antibes.
A beautiful holiday home with gardens and fantastic views.
This house located in Saint Paul de Vence offers an outdoor pool as well.
Travel to Provence (Read more…)
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