A visit to St. Paul de Vence - Part 3

A visit to St. Paul de Vence - Part 3

When you look at a map of St. Paul de Vence you can straight away see that it has been built on the top of an egg shaped hill. The streets follow the oval shape of the hill going all round the city walls. The next street is higher up the hill following the same route which happens again till you reach the top. There is a single main street which runs straight through the middle of the town and also a number of cross streets linking across the shorter part of the oval.

As you walk up to the village’s impressive north entrance you will cross a group of small squares, these all have the typical Provencal atmosphere. On the one just outside the main gate, the Place de Gaulle, you will find the locals playing a game of pétanque (boules) on most days. There is a great bar / café that looks on to the square where you can sit with a coffee, beer or pastries while you watch the games.

Just before you get to this square you will have to pass the entrance of the Colombe d’Or hotel that I mentioned earlier. It is a luxurious and traditional hotel that also has a priceless art collection to go along with its Michelin starred gastronomic restaurant. The hotel welcomes everybody both local and international if you can afford their rates.

It gained popularity in the 1920s, when artists including Picasso, Chagall, and Matisse stayed at the town because of the light and the vistas. As they were not famous at the time they traded their paintings for hospitality at the hotel. I am not sure who had the best part of that deal! You do not need to stay in the hotel to enjoy at least part of it. They have an outside terrace bar where you can sit and have a drink or a snack while looking out over some great views. I have only done this once as it’s a great experience to sit on the terrace where so many great artists spent some time. The vines they have that snake across the area offer shade on the sunnier days.

You will pay about three times what it would cost across the street while you watch the boule but there is no way you will beat this location.

Just to finish the typical setting across the square from the hotel is a traditional laundry basin.

Now that I have reached the main gate let’s see what’s inside in the 4th part of the article.