To describe this village in a few words, we could use the new Instagram trend: “where the heart rests and anxiety disappears”, a phrase used to accompany photos of the most beautiful and beloved places. Saint-Paul-de-Vence is not only a beautiful city (among the most beautiful in France), but it is also a village loved by many artists who have spent relaxing stays, periods of inspiration, and slices of life here. Before we tell you what it is, let’s start right away with the itinerary of this place, which is located on French territory, on the French Riviera.
Route to Saint-Paul-De-Vence by motorbike
Map
Way
In Saint-Paul-De-Vence (or San Paolo di Venzaas it is called on some maps) can be reached in about an hour from Italy on the A8 highway starting from Ventimiglia. The most classic route to our border town is the highway, specifically the A10 Savona-Ventimiglia. Alternatively, for those coming from Piedmont, we recommend the Col di Tenda route, extremely panoramic and nestled among the Alpine mountains, but closed at the time of writing. After crossing the national border, take the highway from Menton to Cagnes-sur-Mer: exit here and drive towards Vence; along the road, you will find Saint-Paul-De-Vence.
All Saint-Paul-De-Vence attractions
Saint Paul de Vence, panoramic view.
Saint-Paul-De-Vence is located inland French Riviera, riding with Provence. It is a medieval walled village, picturesquely perched on a promontory, which is only 7 km from the sea. Among its streets, squares, and fountains, there are various studios and art galleries: every day many tourists arrive to discover the city that was favored by the great artists of the twentieth century.
Artists who love Saint-Paul-De-Vence
The city is primarily associated with the name Marc Chagall. The French painter of Russian origin spent a large part of his life here, so much so that he was buried in the local cemetery. The works he painted occupy a prominent place in the permanent collection of the Maeght Foundation, which he helped to create. Among the other artists who spent part of their lives here, we remember the American writer James British actor Donald Pleasencepainter Jean-Michel Folonpoet Jacques Prévertformer Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wymanphilosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy and actress Arielle Dombasle. Not to mention that the French Riviera was the “home” of other great artists like Picasso and Matisse.
Maeght Foundation
We mentioned about Maeght Foundation. It is the first independent art foundation in France and brings together one of the most important European collections of modern and contemporary art. Monumental sculptures are placed in the gardens, which harmonize with the surrounding landscape. It can be visited in about an hour and is open every day. Entrance fee €16.
Bastions, Fountain, Piazza de Gaulle
You can’t help but take a nice walk through the medieval streets and visit the whole pretty village. PUSH belt of bastions the circle of walls, remained similar to how it was built by King FrantiÅ¡ek I in 1538. Another important place in the city is the so-called large fountain which is located in the center where in ancient times the inhabitants gathered for daily activities such as washing clothes and supplying water for families and animals. It is also recommended to walk during the walk Place de Gaulle – or rather Place du Jeu de Boules (literally “pétanque squareâ€) – the center of social life in Saint-Paul; Here the singer Yves Montand and the actor Lino Ventura clashed in bitter bouts of bocce (pétanque, as the game is also called in French). Bar Café de la Place restaurant Golden Colombeway Chemin Sainte-Clairethere are other places to mark to see the places that made up the history of this charming village in the south of France!
The Grand Fountain of Saint-Paul-De-Vence.
