Saint Paul de Vence: the citadel of the art of living;
Saint Paul de Vence on its spur dominating the landscape / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos.
Saint-Paul de Vence is the most beautiful perched village on the Côte d'Azur. Located between sea and mountains, it seduces with its authenticity, its heritage and its artistic atmosphere. This medieval village, circled by ramparts built in the 16th century by King François 1st of France as a bastion to protect Provence, preserves a timeless charm with its cobbled streets, shady squares, ancient fountains and stone houses bathed in light. Here you'll come across all the things that make Provence and Nice so charming; elegant tourists dressed in white and small arts and crafts stores. You'll also find some great eateries.
Saint Paul de Vence abounds in small artisan boutiques and art galleries / Photo Jérôme Prod'homme (c)
As you stroll along, you'll discover many art galleries, artists' studios and refined boutiques that make Saint-Paul a mecca for contemporary creation. The artistic spirit has long reigned here: great names such as Matisse, Picasso and Prévert have stayed. Marc Chagall is even buried here, in the peaceful village cemetery overlooking the hills. Not far away,the Fondation Maeght is a must-see. This museum of modern and contemporary art houses works by Joan Miró, Alberto Giacometti, Georges Braque and Alexander Calder, in a unique architectural setting blending art and nature.
In Saint Paul de Vence, art can be found in the most unexpected places / Photo Jérôme PROD'HOMME (c)
The panorama, from the heights, stretches all the way to the Mediterranean. Between heritage, culture and landscapes, Saint-Paul de Vence offers a poetic and elegant immersion, prized by visitors from all over the world, and especially by those elegant tourists, so typical of the Côte d'Azur, dressed in white and encountered everywhere here before spending a moment watching the boulistes play pétanque in front of the ramparts.
White is always chic on the Côte d'Azur / Photo Jérôme PROD'HOMME (c)
Distance Saint Paul de Vence - Nice
- Car: 18.9 kms or 30 mn
- Public transport: tramway line 2, from city center to Parc Phoenix stop. Then line n°9 or n°620 (Parc Phoenix / Aéroport Promenade / Saint-Laurent du Var / Cagnes sur Mer). Then line n°655 (Cagnes sur Mer / La Colle sur Loup / Saint-Paul de Vence). → Nice / Saint-Paul de Vence : 1h10 journey.
Grasse: The perfume capital of the world
Grasse, perched high on the Côte d'Azur, is globally known as the perfume capital. Its history dates back to the Middle Ages, but it was in the 17th century that the town took off thanks to the perfume industry, linked to the local floral culture. Even today, jasmine, rose de mai, lavender or tuberose perfume the surrounding hills and inspire the great houses.Flowers are very easy to find around Grasse, around houses, on facades. They're right at home.
Lavender reigns supreme, just like roses and jasmine around Grasse / Photo selected by monsieurdefrance.Com: depositphotos.
La visite de Grasse commence par son centre historique, aux ruelles étroites et colorées, ponctuées de placettes, d’églises et d’hôtels particuliers. On y trouve la cathédrale Notre-Dame-du-Puy, édifiée au XIIIe siècle, qui abrite notamment des œuvres de Rubens et de Fragonard. Ce dernier, peintre du XVIIIe siècle originaire de la ville, donne aussi son nom au musée Fragonard, consacré à la peinture et aux arts décoratifs. Mais Grasse, c’est surtout l’univers du parfum. Les grandes maisons comme Fragonard, Galimard ou Molinard proposent des visites de leurs ateliers et musées, où l’on découvre les secrets de fabrication des fragrances. Il est même possible d’y créer son propre parfum.
Grasse and the cathedral bell tower / Photo selected by Monsieurdefrance.com: By Copyleft — Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16078274
Surrounded by flower-filled hills, between sea and mountains, Grasse offers a bucolic and authentic setting. Classified as a "Ville d'Art et d'Histoire", it seduces with its heritage, unique atmosphere and delicately scented art of living.
You'll learn all about perfume in Grasse / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos
Distance Grasse - Nice
- Car: 18.9 kms or 30 mn
- Public transport: The best way to get from Nice to Grasse without a car is by train (Nice Grasse line in 1H00 by T.E.R) and line 660 bus, which takes 1 h 27 m
Tourettes sur Loup: a typical Provencal village
The village of Tourettes sur Loup / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com : By Jpchevreau - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=160042108
Tourrettes-sur-Loup, nicknamed the "City of Violets", is a perched village in the Nice hinterland that blends medieval charm, craftsmanship and a gentle way of life. Set against a rocky spur, it overlooks the Loup gorges and offers magnificent panoramas of the Mediterranean in the distance, and the surrounding hills. Its narrow streets, lined with stone houses, invite you to stroll between artisan workshops, art galleries and shady squares. Thearched heart of the village has retained its medieval layout. Here you'll find the Romanesque church of Saint-Grégoire, as well as the remains of the château of the Lords of Tourrettes, now transformed into an exhibition venue. The village is also known for its many shops featuring ceramists, sculptors, weavers and perfumers.
At the end of the narrow streets / Photo selected by monsieurdefrance.Com: Jérôme PROD'HOMME
A symbol of Tourrettes, the violet is celebrated every March during a traditional festival. This flower, grown locally for over a century, perfumes streets and confectionery, particularly in the form of crystallized sweets. The village even houses a small museum dedicated to this emblematic flower. Authentic, flower-filled and craft-oriented, Tourrettes-sur-Loup has a peaceful, inspiring atmosphere. Less crowded than its neighbors, it offers a timeless interlude between heritage, nature and tradition.
Tourettes sur Loup : detail / Photo selected by monsieurdefrance.com : Jérôme PROD'HOMME
Distance Tourettes sur Loup - Nice
- Car : 27 kms or 30 minutes
- Public transport: line 09 bus and streetcar 1H30
