Saint-Paul de Vence

St.-Paul-de-Vence, in Alpes-Maritimes, France, is a perfectly preserved medieval village perched on a hillside several kilometres from the Mediterranean. St. Paul became an art centre in the early twentieth century and remains home to countless galleries and studios.

Panorama of St. Paul

Get in

Buses run from the terminal in Nice. Alternatively you can go to Cagnes-sur-Mer by train (TER line 4) and then take the bus (line 200) to St. Paul. The 30-minute bus ride is a very rewarding one because it takes you through some other smaller villages, and offers you a great panoramic view onto St. Paul before you get there.

Get around

The village is pedestrian only.

See

Sculpture Gardens, Fondation Maeght

Wandering the streets of the village is the best way to see everything.

• 1 Fondation Maeght, 623, Chemin des Gardettes. Museum of modern and contemporary art located just outside the main village walls. (updated Dec 2020)

Buy

Artworks, of course. There is art to fit a wide variety of budgets in St. Paul.

"Le Boudoir de Saint-Paul " shows modern and contemporary art from world famous artists such as Picasso, Klein, Duchamp or Delvoye. Located at the entrance of the village, Le Boudoir is conceived such that the Leroy Brothers are able to invite personalities to interview in a salon setting.

Eat

La Colombe d'Or offers a wonderful cuisine in a setting unlike any other. As you dine, you will notice paintings filling the walls of artists who in the earlier 20th century were offered room and board in exchange for their artwork, such as Matisse and Picasso. In the summer, Toile Blanche opens its restaurant on the terrace with a view on the village and superb landscape. The restaurant is mentioned in both the Michelin and the Gault&Millau guide.

Drink

There are fountains with free water all around the village, with which you can replenish your water bottle.

Sleep

Toile Blanche is a wonderful boutique hotel in the valley of Saint-Paul, run by the artistic trio 'Leroy Brothers'. The house is filled with artworks of the brothers.

Hotel Les Vergers de St. Paul is a beautiful place just outside the city walls. Its pool and landscape will constantly remind you that you are near the Riviera.