Saint Paul de Vence

The picturesque mountain stronghold of Saint Paul de Vence, once guarded the ancient Var Frontier. Cars are forbidden inside the walls of the old town whose cobbled streets are lined with galleries and tourist shops. From the encircling ramparts you get panoramic views of the hilltowns of the Riviera. Located outside the walled town in the woods along the Cagnes road, the Foundation Maeght, a private museum that sponsors and hosts numerous collections of works of some of the world’s finest contemporary artists, is one of the principal attractions of Saint Paul de Vence. (Open Oct to Jun.) Saint Paul de Vence is also a convenient base from which to explore the Riviera and we recommend a number of places both within its fortified walls on its outskirts. From Saint Paul de Vence it is a short drive back to Nice.