Why visiting this beautiful gem on the French Riviera is a must
There is no question, the South of France is a visitors dream destination. From beautiful beaches and bustling coastal cities to the verdant rolling hills topped by many medieval villages, great local food and wines and the balmy Mediterranean climate, visitors are spoilt with an abundance of stupendous experiences.
If you are looking for guidance where to stay or where to go for a day trip while in the area, I have an awesome location for you to add to your travel bucket list.
Why it’s worth visiting Saint Paul de Vence on the French Riviera
Normally I would recommend avoiding places which tend to be huge tourist magnets and thus crowded and instead chose the quitter, lesser-known and therefore more intimate places.
And then, there are the exceptions of this rule.
The stunning hilltop village Saint Paul de Vence is one of the oldest medieval villages on the French Riviera. And while it is one of the most visited places in the area, attracting around 2.5 million visitors annually, you can’t miss this beautiful place when travelling to the French Riviera. After all, it’s considered one of the most beautiful villages in France.
World renowned artists like Picasso, Matisse, and Marc Chagall have all visited/stayed at the small village, and their spirit lives on to this day. Saint Paul de Vence is a treasure trove for art lovers with one of the highest densities of art galleries in the whole of France.
Though Saint Paul is quite tiny (just over seven square kilometres), there is enough to experience that you should set aside a whole day for the trip. Which would give you enough time to include a nice extended lunch break. That said, you could easily cover the village in half a day as well.
How to get to Saint Paul de Vence on the French Riviera
Saint Paul de Vence is located in the Alpes-Maritimes department in Provence, France, just around 20 kilometres from Nice.
The village is connected to the local public transport network by bus No. 400 departing from Nice’s Parc Phoenix or Aeroport Promenade, which takes just over an hour to arrive.
If you are visiting from another of the nearby coastal cities such as Antibes, Cannes, or Monte Carlo, your best public transport connections would be to take the TER train connecting the cities along the coast to Cagnes-sur-Mer. From here, you need to walk to the bus station (Gare Cagnes-sur-Mer) and take the bus No. 400 for the final stretch to Saint Paul de Vence.
If you are visiting from one of the nearby coastal cities, you could also take a taxi if you do not mind paying 40-50 EUR. It will take you about 20 minutes from both Nice and Antibes, and around 30 minutes from Cannes.
In case you are traveling with your own (rental) car, there is the Indigo underground parking area near the village with just under 500 parking spaces. If you come early in the day, there should be no problem to get a space here.
When is the best time visiting Saint Paul de Vence on the French Riviera
Saint Paul de Vence, like the rest of the French Riviera is an all-year destination. That said, while the local Mediterranean climate means that even the winter months are typically mild, there is a higher change of rain during this time of the year.
However, if you plan to visit, keep in mind the tiny village attracts a huge number of visitors each year. Which means, the whole village and in particular the main street can become very crowded.
I recommend avoiding to visit during high season at all as the village will be crowded.
The quietest time would obviously be the winter months, and most of the art galleries and studios will still remain open seven days a week. Except for some of the craft shops, that might be closed from around mid-November to mid-January.
Visiting during shoulder season (in spring or fall) usually means nice weather and still slightly lower crowds. Nevertheless, make sure to arrive early to beat the tourist busses arriving during the day. In addition, avoid weekends and public holidays as they will still be busy.
What to expect when exploring Saint Paul de Vence
Saint Paul de Vence is one of these places where you do not need to come equipped with a list of things to do and see. With just over seven square kilometres, this is a location that calls for simply strolling through the small, cobbled streets, taking in and exploring the sights as you go.
That said, here are some interesting facts and the loveliest spots in the village that should help you plan your time here.
The old town spots many buildings going back to the 16th and 17th centuries, while the city walls were built in the 16th century by orders of King Francis I Valois. This makes Saint Paul de Vence one of the oldest walled cities of France. This historic wall is still partly intact and walking along the ramparts you will come past a couple of fantastic vantage points offering stunning views over the surrounding countryside.
Entering from Porte de Vance at the north end of the village (the main entrance to the village), strolling along the tiny, cobble-stoned main street Rue Grande to Porte de Nice, the southern gate at the other end of the village, you will pass modern art galleries, art studios and craft selling art, tableware, fabrics, and specialities from Provence.
By the way, Porte de Nice was called like this because it was the gate through which residents in the Middle Ages would leave the village when heading to Nice.
Many of the modern art galleries offer workshops and other interactions. If you are interested, check out the village’s official website featuring some of the leasing workshops and classes before visiting.
Place de la Grande Fontaine or Fontaine de Saint Paul de Vence is a beautiful spot to linger and let yourself be transported back in time. Build in the early 17th century, the fountain was once used to water horses and the woman of the village would wash clothes here.
As much as the many art galleries along the main street are a fascinating place, make sure to explore the upper parts of the village too. It is here where you will find some of the most amazing historic buildings.
Among them is a lone towner, the only remains of an old castle that was demolished in the 13th century to give way to the two churches.
One of them, L’Eglise Collégiale, was built between the 13th and 17th centuries is home to four chapels inside and next to it sits 17th century bell towner.
As you wander around, you will also come across several courtyards and many of the houses are covered in clematis flowers.
Just outside the village’s southern gate sits the old cemetery where you can find the tomb of renowned painter Marc Chagall.
Also located just outside the ramparts on the western side of the village are several vineyards growing white and red grapes that are tended by a skilled winemaker responsible for the wines made in Saint Paul.
Go and taste them in the 14th century historic wine cellar, La Cave de Saint Paul.
Last but not least, just a short distance from Saint Paul de Vence you will find Fondation Maeght. Much to my disappointment, it was closed a couple of months last spring when I visited. It is one of the largest private modern and contemporary art collections in France, founded in 1964. Today, it houses paintings, sculptures, ceramics, and other forms of modern art, found in part in the sculpture garden.
I take it as a sign that I must return.
If you are planning to visit the French Riviera, make sure Saint Paul de Vence is part of your itinerary. This place is too beautiful to miss.
Carrots and Tigers 