Saint Paul de Vence is one of the prettiest villages in the whole of France. Located in the French Riviera just six kilometres from the Mediterranean coast, St Paul occupies a naturally strategic hilltop position, which led to its original fortification. Surrounded by high walled ramparts the old village is a myriad of winding streets which are free of traffic and perfect for meandering around at any time of year.

Within the old town there is an impressive high towered church and a number of beautiful squares, some with gorgeous old fountains. The atmospheric streets have attracted artists and art galleries in abundance and best of all they are really interesting ones. You see many people who have come a long way to buy art pieces making serious purchases here. The renowned modern and contemporary art museum Fondation Maeght is located near Saint Paul and the artist Marc Chagall was a famous resident.

The village also has a large number of excellent restaurants, many of which are in special settings and have great character. The best known and most highly reputed is the Colombe d’Or which is one of the great gastronomic restaurants of the Cote d’Azur. You will almost certainly need to book in advance.

Many famous actors have frequented Saint Paul de Vence over the years, particularly the French actors Lino Ventura, Simone Signoret and Yves Montand. The boules area at the entrance of the village is well known as one of the haunts of modern day celebrities.

During the summer the village has a lively program of events known as the Festival Les Nuits de la Courtine, much of which takes place on the spectacular stage which buts up against the walls of the ramparts which provide a spectacular backdrop for the outdoor cinema, theatre and concerts which take place there. From the high walls there are numerous panoramic view points from where one can view the sea and the majestic mountains behind the village.