Saint-Paul-de-Vence
A walled hilltop medieval art village with galleries lining its stone lanes, where Chagall is buried. It is the most famous hill town on the French Riviera.
Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a hilltop old town about 20 km northwest of Nice. Its 16th-century walls still completely encircle the village. The main street, Rue Grande, and the winding stone lanes are lined with galleries, studios and craft shops. From the 20th century on, artists such as Matisse, Picasso and Chagall often stayed here, and Chagall is buried in the cemetery south of the village. At the entrance, the La Colombe d'Or hotel displays original works on its walls, given by artists in exchange for their bills. From the walls you can see the Mediterranean and the valleys below, and people often play pétanque in the entrance square. From Nice, bus line 400 takes about an hour. You can combine a visit with the Fondation Maeght and the Chapelle du Rosaire in Vence.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Fondation Maeght
- Chapelle du Rosaire (Matisse Chapel)
- Antibes Old Town
- Musée Picasso Antibes
- Promenade des Anglais
- Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Chéret
- St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral
- Cap d'Antibes