Saint-Paul-De-Vence offers cultural discoveries ranging from modern art to medieval buildings. At the Fondation Maeght, a significant collection and sculptures in the garden take centre stage; chapels and remnants of the fortifications offer other historical perspectives. When planning your stay, you can first decide which of these facets of the town interests you most. You can also plan your journey around a specific bus connection and the walk from the stop to the village entrance.
Getting to the village entrance
Bus route 655 connects Nice or Cagnes-sur-Mer with the St Paul Village stop. From there, it is a ten-minute walk along Chemin de Sainte Claire to the entrance to the village. If you are travelling by bus, you can take this walk into account when planning your trip. Check the timetable before you travel, as transport details may change.
Art collections and sculpture gardens
The Fondation Maeght is a museum set in nature and houses one of Europe’s most important collections of works from the 20th and 21st centuries. Its collection comprises 13,000 works. The gardens feature monumental sculptures that engage in dialogue with the surrounding landscape. The collection and garden art are among the different aspects that make a visit to the Fondation Maeght distinctive.
The Fondation CAB Saint-Paul de Vence offers a different exhibition perspective. It is housed in a building dating from the 1950s and presents a permanent collection as well as thematic exhibitions. When deciding where to go, this means that the Fondation Maeght combines a museum, an extensive collection and a sculpture garden, while at the Fondation CAB, the building and changing thematic focuses are part of the cultural experience.
The Chapelle Folon also offers a distinctive experience. Its interior is the final work of Jean-Michel Folon; it is also considered the last artists’ chapel in the southern Mediterranean region. Visits are self-guided and do not require a tour. Private guided visits are available on request. This visit option is therefore distinct from a private guided appointment.
Chapels and medieval traces
The Chapelle Notre Dame des Gardettes is a medieval rural chapel. It was built along the former route between Saint-Paul-de-Vence and Tourrettes-sur-Loup and can be reached via an old path through the Saint-Paul countryside. Here, the building’s history and a walk through the landscape are two aspects of the visit.
The Chapelle Saint-Michel was built in the 16th century on the site of the former parish church. The Tour à mâchicoulis, also known as the « porte de Vence », is one of the few surviving elements of Saint-Paul’s medieval fortifications. The two sites point to different chapters in the history of the buildings: the chapel to its predecessor, and the tower to the surviving fortifications.
A route in Marc Chagall’s footsteps
The « Sur les pas de Marc Chagall » route passes three reproductions of works by Marc Chagall. They are located at the Rond-point des Trious and along Chemin Sainte-Claire. The route thus complements the themes of museum and architectural art with artworks in public spaces. As route details may change, it is a good idea to check the latest information before your visit.
Choose a focus for your stay
If you are looking for a hotel in Saint-Paul-De-Vence, your preferred focus can help guide your choices: collections and sculpture gardens, thematic exhibitions, or chapels and fortifications. The places mentioned offer different cultural points of interest during your stay.
Discover more destinations: Pégomas, Grasse, Roquesteron, Isola, Saint-Martin-Vésubie, Briançonnet, Saint-Martin-Dʼentraunes, Vallauris.
For the broader travel overview: Alpes-Maritimes.
