Saint Paul de Vence le village des artistes

The last home of Marc Chagall and the wedding place of Yves Montand and Simone Signoret, this medieval village that inspired songs by Charles Trenet and Julien Doré has been attracting artists since the early 20th century. With its imposing ramparts, mild climate and proximity to the sea, this authentic Provencal town is also a popular destination for visitors, who have made it a must-see in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

A hilltop village

With its location on a rocky outcrop, this village with origins dating back to the Middle Ages played an important role in the Italian wars. It was during the conflict between Francis I and Charles V that its ramparts, still standing today, were erected. But if, for 5 centuries, Saint-Paul-de-Vence was recognized as a frontier stronghold, today the little village of 300 inhabitants attracts above all those wishing to follow in the footsteps of the many artists who have adopted it since the 1950s.

These include the American writer James Baldwin, who spent the last 17 years of his life here, passing away in 1987. Marc Chagall lived here for 19 years and has been laid to rest since 1985. During these years, the unclassifiable painter devoted numerous canvases to his adopted village, inspired by its ramparts, narrow streets and panorama stretching from the sea to the pre-Alps.

A source of inspiration

It was surely its ideal location between the Alps and the Mediterranean that attracted other artists during the 20th century, unless it was its typically Mediterranean climate or its authentic art of living?

In any case, many artists joined the Belarusian painter, who became a French citizen, in this unspoilt commune of the Alpes-Maritimes department:

Picasso, Matisse, Miró, Modigliani, Braque, Fernand Léger and Maurice Utrillo all stayed, for varying lengths of time, at the Auberge La Colombe d'or.

The inn, which opened in 1931 and is still in operation, houses works by these artists who fell under the spell of Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

In addition to painters, a number of singers have also sought inspiration in what was one of the first bastioned fortifications built in France. From Charles Trenet to Jean Ferrat, from Michel Sardou to Serge Reggiani, many songwriters have dedicated a song to their holiday village, including, most recently, Julien Doré.

But actors are not to be outdone, with such great figures of the 7th art as Arletty, Sophia Loren, Lino Ventura or Simone Signoret and Yves Montand (who married on site in 1951) having made a major contribution to the popularity of Saint-Paul-de-Vence. A popularity that is unlikely to wane, as Brad Pitt was recently spotted in the historic alleyways of the medieval town.

Perhaps he was staying in one of the luxurious villas high up on this verdant hillside?

An artistic heritage still alive

A 20-minute walk from what is today one of the most famous villages in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur is the Fondation Maeght. A mecca for modern and contemporary art, it was home to the painters mentioned above, as well as sculptors Alberto Giacometti and Alexander Calder. Some of their works can be seen in the pine forest surrounding the building, designed in the 1960s by art dealers Aimé and Marguerite Maeght in collaboration with Catalan architect Josep Lluís Sert.

Inaugurated in 1964 by the Minister of Culture André Malraux, the 1ʳᵉ independent art foundation in France today brings together one of Europe's most important collections of works from the 20th and 21st centuries. This collection of some 30,000 works by the great names of modern art is on loan throughout France and abroad, when it is not included in temporary exhibitions which, as the founders intended, highlight contemporary artists.

So many more good reasons to come to Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

To discover this pretty village just 15 minutes from the sea, visit the Tourist Office website, where guided tours in the footsteps of artists are offered.

Enjoy your discovery.

Valérie from Comme des Français

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