"Saint Paul de Vence" a Saint-Paul Travel Page by TRimer

St. Paul de Vence has long been a favorite of art-lovers and architecture enthusiasts alike. The town is perched atop a hill (you have to walk up quite an incline to get to the walled city). For great views of the countryside (as well as the seas and the mountains), walk along the parapets surrounding the old town. The streets are paved with river-rock in a beautiful sunflower pattern.

Walking into the center of town (before you walk up to the walled vilalge), you will pass the famed Colombe d'Or restaurant on the left and the boules (pétanque) court on the right. The town is filled with lots of tourist shops but there are some wonderful shops that are selling local products (paintings, porcelan, etc. ) and some interesting art galleries.

The Foundation Maeght, a world-class modern art museum, is located nearby. Growing up, my mom had prints from the Gallerie Maeght all over our house. It is known for modern works from such artists as Calder and Klee.

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. Therefore it is best to go early in the morning or late in the afternoon.