14 Things To Do In Saint-Paul-de-Vence (Is It Worth It?)

Europe is such a dream destination. It is rich in history, packed with picturesque towns, and has many scenic attractions. Do you know where in Europe you can find them all in one place? In southern France.

There are just many beautiful places in the South of France—you can always find one for each category! If it is a charming village you’re looking to visit, Saint-Paul-de-Vence is definitely the one you must consider.

In this post, I’ll tell you the things to do in Saint-Paul-de-Vence so you may know if Saint-Paul-de-Vence is worth visiting. But that’s not all, there are more!

Aside from the attractions and activities that you can do in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, you will also find helpful things in this post. This article includes tips, visiting information, Google Maps location, and everything that will help you enjoy Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

I assure you that you’ll have a productive time reading this post! And if you find it helpful, please pin this post to Pinterest or share it with your friends.

So, without further ado, let’s now talk about the question of why you’re probably here:

Is Saint-Paul-de-Vence Worth Visiting?

Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a preserved medieval village in the French Riviera and one of the most beautiful in France. It is like a quaint open museum filled with modern art galleries tucked beside its calade streets. Saint-Paul-de-Vence is well worth a visit for a lovely stroll, taking pictures, and art appreciation.

That basically summarizes the experience you may have in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. And by the way, Saint-Paul-de-Vence is also a fortified hilltop village overlooking the French Riviera.

With its charming medieval flair and scenic views, I think Saint-Paul-de-Vence can be an excellent destination for memorable life events. Some of what I can think of are a wedding proposal, anniversary celebration, honeymoon, and romantic dates.

Isn’t it lovely to talk about your feelings with someone special while slowly walking along the most charming streets in the world? Then, you sit by the ramparts, watch the sunset, and converse about the dreams and plans you have for the future.

Saint-Paul-de-Vence can be the place for those perfect moments! 

Of course, Saint-Paul-de-Vence can be an excellent destination even if you travel alone. That is, most especially if you want to discover new artworks, soul search, or just get lost wandering for life-changing escapism.

Stay until the end because you’ll know why as we discuss each attraction/thing to do in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

But before we discuss them, let’s make sure that we know where Saint-Paul-de-Vence is and how much time you need to fully enjoy Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Let’s go: 

Introduction to Saint-Paul-de-Vence

As a person who has experienced anxiety, places that can fill people with awe have become my favorite destinations and fascination. Why? Because awe is a wholesome feeling, benefiting us in many aspects of our lives.

Traveling and feeling this “awe” every time helped me improve my mindset. It even magically fueled my desire to improve my life for the better and pursue my passion! 

Basically, by traveling, I re-engineered my life.

This search for “awe” made me discover Saint-Paul-de-Vence. And based on what I have found, I think Saint-Paul-de-Vence can also be a place where you can as well feel it!

Where is Saint-Paul-de-Vence?

We can find Saint-Paul-de-Vence in southeastern France, 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the French-Italian border. It is one of the villages in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.

Saint-Paul-de-Vence is one of the best day trips you can have if you are in Nice, Antibes, and Cannes. They are the cities closest to Saint-Paul-de-Vence. It will only take 30 to 45 minutes to reach Saint-Paul-de-Vence from these cities by car.

How to go to Saint-Paul-de-Vence?

Saint-Paul-de-Vence is only serviced by bus #400, plying from Nice to Vence, and vice versa, every 30 to 45 minutes. Because of the limited public transportation, renting and driving a car is preferable if you wish to visit more attractions in the French Riviera in a day.

You may see the bus schedule here.

That said, it would be better to stay in Nice if you plan to visit Saint-Paul-de-Vence on a day trip.

At the same time, most guided tours and day trips to Saint-Paul-de-Vence start from Nice. These can be your alternative in visiting Saint-Paul-de-Vence if you don’t prefer to rent/drive a car or you find the public transport not so convenient.

How much time do I need in Saint-Paul-de-Vence?

A day is more than enough to visit Saint-Paul-de-Vence. You can already explore the entire village, see a couple of museums, and eat in a lovely cafe. To give you a perspective, you can finish a walk outside ramparts, encompassing the village, in less than 30 minutes.

Ideally, the hike outside the walls of Saint-Paul-de-Vence can be finished within half an hour. In real life, it may be longer, considering the time you take pictures, rest, and admire the vistas.

Later, I’ll show you the map and the best hikes in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. I love hiking, so they are often included in the articles I create as much as possible! 🙂

14 Best Things To Do In Saint-Paul-de-Vence

Previously, I mentioned that Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a quaint yet tiny medieval town you can see in less than a day. 

Although that is the case, it does not mean that there’s nothing much to do in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. I think there are many things you can do in this lovely medieval place.

Here are some of the attractions and things to do within and around Saint-Paul-de-Vence you can try:

1. Stroll in Rue Grande
2. Explore the Place de la Grande Fontaine
3. See different artworks inside the ramparts
4. View the White Penitent’s Chapel decorated by Folon
5. Enter the Collegiate Church
6. See the Remains of Saint-Paul de Vence’s Castle (The Keep or The Dungeon)
7. Explore the bastioned wall of Saint-Paul de Vence
8. Visit the Cemetery
9. Discover the wines of Saint-Paul de Vence
10. Find the little gems of Saint-Paul de Vence
11. Capture the most picturesque spots
12. Watch people playing Pétanque
13. Visit Maeght Fondation
14. Hike outside the ramparts of Saint-Paul de Vence

Tip. If you’re a techy person like me and rely on GPS and Google Maps to navigate, I’m afraid it may not work very well in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

Some of the streets of Saint-Paul-de-Vence are narrow and flanked by two-story high buildings. These obstruct the signals from the satellites and thus may cause our apps to give wrong directions.

I recommend you get a copy of the map of Saint-Paul-de-Vence from the tourism office as soon as you arrive. The tourism office is located behind Tour A Machicoulis in Rue Grande. 

I liked the soft copy of the brochures at the end of this post.

1. Stroll in Rue Grande

Saint-Paul-de-Vence is like an open museum; for me, there’s no better place to start exploring the village than in Rue Grande. 

swipe the 360° image below to see more views

Rue Grande is Saint-Paul-de-Vence’s main street that traverses the center of the village and runs along the entire length of Saint-Paul-de-Vence. After you acquire your brochures from the tourism office, you can stroll immediately after in Rue Grande.

It features the Provencal style of cobblestone streets called calade. It is made up of pebbles arranged in an artsy way, forming harmonious shapes like flowers, etc.

What can fascinate you while strolling in Saint-Paul-de-Vence’s Rue Grande, aside from the calades, are the modern art galleries. They are inside the medieval houses on both sides of the street.

The houses and buildings look quaint. Some are covered with vines; others have windows and balconies embellished with flowers. 

Look ahead; you’re like in the 16th and 17th centuries. Look sideways; you’re back today. That shift between “new” and “old” is incredible for me!

Rue Grande is also where you can find most shops and boutiques in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. I was not surprised that even the clothes they sell are like art.

2. Explore the Place de la Grande Fontaine

You’ll stumble upon Place de la Grande Fontaine after a few minutes of wandering down Saint-Paul-de-Vence’s Rue Grande from the tourism office. It was the busiest part of Saint-Paul-de-Vence medieval village back in the day.

Here, you can sit by the fountain and relax for a bit. Listen to the sound of the water flowing from the fountain and the footsteps of the people passing by.

Place de la Grande Fontaine is a portal of your imagination to the 17th century. Although it was modified several times, the square’s heritage remains.

As you watch the surroundings, you can imagine the daily life in Saint-Paul-de-Vence during the middle ages. Picture medieval men carrying buckets gathering around the fountain to fetch water. You may also imagine teens with their donkeys on a leash, giving their pets water to drink.

Also, in Place de la Grande Fontaine, you’ll find the centuries-old washhouse. Peek in, and washerwomen beating their laundries and scrubbing the dirty clothes should come to your imagination.

Can you imagine yourself also doing these? Well, if you will ask me, I’d say I can’t! Indeed, it will make us realize how convenient life has become. 

3. See different artworks inside the ramparts

With the artsy medieval charm of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, it’s a place where many artists will indeed be inspired to create their own art. 

This is why, today, many creatives call Saint-Paul-de-Vence home. A stroll in the Rue Grande can give you proof of that!

Did you know that there are more than 40 registered art galleries and museums in Saint-Paul-de-Vence? This is why I think it’s a paradise for art lovers, especially those who like modern art.

Saint-Paul-de-Vence’s art galleries have genres ranging from impressionism to expressionism. Also, exquisite to weird-looking sculptures. You may find sculptures even if you’re only strolling in the village’s quaint streets.

Actually, you can view artworks and learn simultaneously in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Art studios, run by local artists, offer workshops. Attend a class so that after you visit Saint-Paul-de-Vence, you have developed a new skill or hobby.

What’s great about attending an artwork shop is that you’ll directly interact with the artists. During a class, you will not only hear the artist’s passion, their captivating stories, and art techniques. You’ll also better learn to understand the meaning of artworks and so on.

Of the 40+ galleries in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, the three galleries within the medieval village I like the most are:

1. ART Gallery 31
2.  Di Allure Art Gallery
3. Atelier Kleinberg

Art Gallery 31 is a permanent exhibition by Michel Degav, a painter who uses eye-catching vibrant colors in his artwork. His creation depicts strength, dreams, and happiness.

They remind me of the person I created, the one I am today, and the man I aim to be in the future. Here’s a video showing a summary of his work:

Di Allure Art Gallery is another which I like as well. This art gallery in Saint-Paul-de-Vence exhibits the artworks of many Macedonian artists. 

In their artworks, they try to introduce new ideas and ways to convey messages through art. They have artworks in the form of paintings and sculptures—you should see these masterpieces!

Here is a sample artwork in Di Allure Art Gallery:

Last (but not least) is Atelier Kleinberg. It is a gallery and a workshop where there are paintings I find most unique in Saint-Paul-de-Vence’s medieval village. 

Here, you will find impressive paintings conveying the characteristics of a human, described by the tones and colors in a free, spontaneous way. Here is a sample artwork in Atelier Kleinberg:

4. View the White Penitent’s Chapel decorated by Folon

Indeed, a day is enough in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. But if you visit to discover Modern artworks and learn about creating art, definitely, you’ll need two days or more!

In Saint-Paul-de-Vence, even a chapel’s interior was turned into Modern art. This chapel is called the White Penitent’s chapel, which is now a highly rated attraction in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

Here’s what is inside the White Penitent’s Chapel:

swipe the 360° image below to see more views

Yes, it is not an ordinary chapel anymore. White Penitents Chapel is now where the artworks of Jean-Michel Folon are exhibited. 

Jean-Michel Folon is Saint-Paul-de-Vence’s special guy. He is a Belgian artist who dedicated his life to this medieval village that inspired him the most.

This Belgian artist has finished several artworks in his years in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. You’ll find it embellishing the walls of the White Penitent’s Chapel.

Jean-Michel Folon is a talented artist. His artworks are in different forms like beautiful mosaics, artsy stained glass windows, and sculptures. You can find his eight oil paintings hanging on both sides of the White Penitent’s Chapel.

Of the several Jean-Michel Folon’s artworks inside the White Penitent’s Chapel, the most notable is the 106-square-meter mosaic that covers the walls of the choir. It depicts the walled village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence and the surrounding landscapes. (see it from the 360-degree-image)

I admire Jean-Michel for his philosophy, “creating something spiritual, trying to understand the deep meaning of a place, is a real joy.” His artworks speak for it.

This makes me think that the White Penintent’s Chapel is unmissable when visiting Saint-Paul-de-Vence. 

Do you want to come? The last time I checked the official website of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, the White Penitent’s Chapel opens all year aside from November, December 25, and January 1.

The gallery welcomes visitors from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm from May to September. From 10:30 am to 4:00 pm, from October to May. There’s a 1.5 hours lunch break after 12:30 pm.

The entry fee is 4 EUR/adult, and the entire length of the tour lasts 45 minutes. Yes, they speak English. 🙂

5. Enter the Collegiate Church

When we think of artworks, paintings and sculptures come first to our minds. However, we seldom think that architecture is also a form of art. 

In Saint-Paul-de-Vence, you can visit a church with a few architectural styles. This church is called the Collegiate Church of Saint Paul. Spending a little time here in silence/prayer/meditation while admiring its design is another thing you can do in the village. 

swipe the 360° image below to see more views

The Collegiate Church lies at the heart of the village, just beside the Chapel of Folon. If you are from the tourism office, the first left turn along Rue Grande shall lead you to the facade of this church.

When you enter the church and start speculating, I’m sure you’ll notice Saint Paul Collegiate Church manifesting three architectural styles. They are Baroque, Romanesque, and Counter-Reformation. 

Saint Paul Collegiate Church’s multiple styles were possible because of the length it was under construction. Believe it or not, building the church lasted for around 400 years, starting from the 14th century to the 18th century.

The oldest parts of the church are the nave, choir, and the four pillars. They demonstrate the primitive Romanesque style, the original design of the Collegiate church.

Notice the stuccoes and frescoes? They are excellent examples of artworks dating back to the Counter-Reformation era.

However, of all the features of the church, the chapel of Saint Clement in Baroque style is the most notable. It contains some relics that originated from Rome.

Saint Paul Collegiate Church isn’t as impressive as the churches in Paris, Reims, and Strasbourg. But it can be an excellent place to find some quiet in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

6. See the Remains of Saint-Paul de Vence’s Castle (The Keep or The Dungeon)

Did you know? There was a castle dominating Saint-Paul-de-Vence in the 13th century. Today it is no more. But the castle’s keep still remains.

Other people call the keep a “dungeon.” Some know it as Mairie or the town hall. 

Whatever it is called, the keep is one of the attractions in Saint-Paul-de-Vence you can easily visit. Located beside the two churches, it’s totally effortless to come there and discover traces of one of the oldest buildings in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

Scan the lower sections of the tower, and you’ll find the rusticated stones dating back to the 12th century.

You may wonder, why did the people of Saint-Paul-de-Vence demolish the castle? If it can protect them in times of invasion.

The reason is religion. As the population of the medieval city grew, the churches needed to expand to accommodate more people. The land used by the castle was re-allocated for the church’s expansion.

Religion isn’t a bad thing, though. But instead, I think people prioritized spirituality over anything back in the day. Just like now, as shown by the artworks in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

7. Explore the bastioned wall of Saint-Paul de Vence

Although the castle of Saint-Paul-de-Vence is no more, another of its fortifications still exists. That is Saint-Paul-de-Vence’s medieval walls. 

For me, the ramparts and bastions of Saint-Paul-de-Vence are an unmissable attraction. They are the village’s historical landmark and scenic spot(s). 

Saint-Paul-de-Vence has 4 beautiful vantage spots of its surrounding vistas. Depending on where you’re at, you can see either the mountains or a lovely panorama of the French Riviera’s coastline.

The viewpoints in Saint-Paul-de-Vence’s ramparts are:

1. Bastion Saint-Remy
2. Promenade Des Remparts Ouest
3. Porte de Nice
4. Vue Sur Le Baou de Saint Jeannet

If you’re from the tourism office and start walking down Rue Grande, the first path you’ll find on the right will lead you to Bastion Saint-Remy.

From Bastion Saint-Remi, proceed south on the path beside the ramparts. It’s the part where you can find Promenade Des Remparts Ouest (or West Ramparts Promenade).

If you continue walking further south, you’ll arrive in Porte de Nice. You should find stairs nearby. 

Climb the stairs. It should lead you to another bastion where you can see the views of the French Prealps limestone mountains and the French Riviera coastline. 

swipe the 360° image below to see more views

In Google Maps, the bastion near Porte de Nice is labeled Annebault Bastion. Also, from here, you can have an overlooking view of the cemetery of Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

Last is Vue Sur Le Baou de Saint Jeannet, located on the other end of the village (northeast). It is a spot a few steps from Tour de l’Esperon, and you should be able to overlook the parking area from there.

8. Visit the Cemetery

Porte de Nice is the passageway of Saint-Paul-de-Vence’s residents heading to the city of Nice in the past. It is the southernmost tip of the medieval village.

It may seem that there’s nothing else much to see from this area besides sightseeing the rest of the French Riviera from Annebault Bastion. However, there’s still one attraction in this area awaiting you!

It is the Saint-Paul-de-Vence cemetery, only a few steps away from Porte de Nice. 

Wait, what?!

Is a cemetery a tourist attraction now?

Like the medieval village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, its cemetery is also like an open museum. Just kidding!

The main deal is that it was here in Saint-Paul-de-Vence where the renowned artist, Marc Chagall, was buried. Marc Chagall, like Folon, is another artist who lived in Saint-Paul-de-Vence for over a decade.

Marc Chagall is famous for his artworks combining Cubism, Surrealism, and Fauvism. They’re unique and revolutionary, I must say. To learn more about Marc Chagall, you may read his biography and legacy from britannica.com.

Where is the tomb of Marc Chagall? You should be able to see Marc Chagall’s grave beside the big tree that you will see to the right just after you enter the cemetery. The tomb of Marc Chagall is sometimes decorated with pebbles, placed on top of his grave by his fans (I think).

swipe the 360° image below to see more views

9. Discover the wines of Saint-Paul de Vence

As you stroll beside the ramparts of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a part of the vistas you’ll find are the vineyards. They are located on the western slopes of the hill where the medieval village is.

This only means one thing. Folks in Saint-Paul-de-Vence are making wines! If you love wines, wine tasting will probably be one of the reasons why you would visit Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

Here are some of the notable things about wines and enotourism in Saint-Paul-de-Vence:

1. Saint-Paul de Vence wine culture has been existing for more than 2 millennia. Locals have been growing vines since 600 BC, and without a doubt, they have perfected winemaking.
2. The wines are authentic. An expert in organic and biodynamic winemaking supervises the harvesting by the hand of the grapes for both red and white wines. Quality at its best!
3. Wine tasting happens in an exceptional 14th-century cellar that presents you with all high-quality wines from Saint-Paul de Vence and other places in France.

I’m not a fan of wines, but definitely, they can make things more romantic. A while ago, I mentioned that Saint-Paul-de-Vence is an excellent destination for celebrating special moments. The wines made in the village are a factor why!

By the way, the 14th-century cellar I’m talking about is La Cave de Saint Paul. Here’s how it looks inside La Cave de Saint Paul:

swipe the 360° image below to see more views

If you want to explore Saint-Paul-de-Vence and have a wine tasting after that, check out this tour. It includes a wine tasting session in Saint Jeannet winery.

10. Find the little gems of Saint-Paul de Vence

Wandering inside Saint-Paul-de-Vence can be so fun as you may find surprising little gems as you stroll around the village. These little gems are simple artworks that tell more of the soulful and artsy culture in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

They are everywhere in the village. You may find one on the floor; some are hanging on the walls of the quaint buildings… you mention.

What I suggest you do is to keep a keen sight of your surroundings when you stroll in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Because, indeed, there are little wonders you may find along the way. 

I just want to share… I grew up in the Philippines, and it’s a totally different place compared to France (especially Saint-Paul-de-Vence). Yes, we have beautiful beaches and nature, but our society doesn’t have and prioritize art like in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

This is why the things I’ll show you below, though small, amaze me. They make me admire the attitude of the residents of Saint-Paul-de-Vence toward the beautification of their “home.”

Did you know? There’s another beautiful town in northeastern France with charm equivalent to Saint-Paul-de-Vence’s. It is so beautiful that it was replicated in Malaysia. The place is called Colmar. Learn about Colmar from this article.

Also, like Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Lyon is a place where little gems are everywhere (just in another form). They are called traboules. Learn more about Traboules in my article about Lyon (Reasons to visit Lyon).

11. Capture the most Picturesque spots

Saint-Paul-de-Vence is considered an open museum, full of art galleries, little gems, and shutter-presser scenes. It has awe-inspiring stairs, arches, tunnels, corners, and fork lanes—all straight out of a fairytale. 

Are you a travel influencer? Your followers will be inspired by the scenes in Saint-Paul-de-Vence you’ll photograph and share. 

Are you not an influencer but only an ordinary traveler? Capture the scenes and send them to your friends. Add a caption telling them that you miss them and wish they were with you when you took the shot.

I’m sure it’ll make them smile and make their day more beautiful!

Here are only a few of the beautiful scenes you’ll find in Saint-Paul-de-Vence:

Of all the picturesque spots in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, the most iconic is Maison de Jacques Prévert. It is the building in the fork of Rue del L’Allee, located a few steps east of town hall/churches. 

Maison de Jacques Prévert is best photographed during the warmer season when the flowering vines covering its facade bloom. Here’s how Maison de Jacques Prévert looks like:

Beautiful scenery isn’t only found inside Saint-Paul-de-Vence’s medieval village. Outside the ramparts, you can find picturesque views that can be really captivating, especially during the golden hour.

The auditorium, 5 minutes away from the tourism office, outside the medieval village, is one that you can easily visit. The roof deck of the auditorium is a panoramic vantage point of the walled medieval town. It is one of the loveliest spots for watching the sunset.

swipe the 360° image below to see more views

12. Watch people playing Pétanque

One more thing you can do within the medieval village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence is to watch and discover a Provencal traditional game. It is called Pétanque, and you can find locals playing it in Place de Gaulle.

Place de Gaulle has several cafes and shops where you can dine while watching players of Pétanque compete.

Pétanque, in a nutshell, is a boules sport where players throw a ball to a target. I’m not sure how they score or how teams win, but you can learn in person how Pétanque is played in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

The tourist information office offers lessons about the game. I suggest you try and join so you may not only learn something new but also meet new friends.

The lesson lasts 1 hour, and the fee is 7 EUR per person. Kids under 12 are free to join. Don’t worry about the language because they can teach us Petanque in English. We can reserve a lesson on these numbers: +33 (0)4 93 32 86 95. 

13. Visit Maeght Fondation

Aside from being full of art, charming, and preserved medieval village, Saint-Paul-de-Vence is also famous for Maeght Fondation. It is a museum of modern art, home to 12,000 masterpieces that yearly attract more than 200,000 visitors.

That said, visiting Maeght Fondation is a must-try thing to do in Saint-Paul-de-Vence since it houses one of the “biggest” 20th-century art collections in Europe! It can be a worthy bucket list destination, right?

What’s unique about La Fondation Maeght is its concept of the artwork exhibition. The place itself is timeless. Individual artworks, architecture, and nature are presented as one complete artwork.

Inside, there are paintings, sculptures, and graphic designs to see. They can be found in the garden, courtyards, and terraces—everything pleasing the eyes.

In La Fondation Maeght, there is also a library, bookshop, and a chapel to visit. It is a fascinating place to visit to satisfy your artsy wanderlust and have a relaxing leisure time in Saint-Paul de Vence.

La Fondation Maeght is open to the public every day from 10 am until 7 pm during summer (July to August). For the rest of the year, opening hours start at 10 am until 6pm. You can enter the complex 30 minutes before closing time.

You can learn more about the museum and book your tickets from its official website.

14. Hike outside the ramparts of Saint-Paul de Vence

If you have time, I recommend that you go hiking around Saint-Paul-de-Vence. One of the easiest yet scenic is the hiking trail from the medieval village to the Maeght Fondation.

The hiking trail to Maeght Fondation passes through cute chapels and scenic sights. You can finish it within 20 minutes, but realistically it can last for 30 minutes for the picture taking and short breaks.

Enter Chapelle Saint Charles-Saint Claude to see modern artworks inside! Here’s the location.

I recommend hiking outside the medieval city as it will allow us to see and admire the walled city from afar and photograph it during golden hours. Besides, hiking is good for our health!

There are several hiking trails outside Saint-Paul de Vence but these two I think are more suitable for tourists planning to visit the town for a day or two:

1. Saint-Paul de Vence Fortification Loop
2. Saint-Paul de Vence to Vence Loop through Vallon du Malvan

Loop on the Fortifications of Saint-Paul de Vence

In this hiking trail, you will walk around the village of Saint-Paul de Vence, literally just outside and alongside the ramparts. You can see stunning panoramas all around the walled city from the foot of the ramparts and bastions.

The start of the trail is at Place de Gaulle. When we face the ramparts from the plaza, we head right to the ramparts, and we just follow the path at the foot of Bastion du Dauphin.

The panoramic scenery from the hiking trail includes hectares of terraced vineyards, numerous orange trees, and olive trees – all used in Saint-Paul de Vence different industries like:

1. Winemaking
2. Perfume
3. Oil production

Aside from the panoramic views from the trail, we will also see the ramparts up close. We can pick up the small details of the walls first ever designed by a French architect.

Hiking outside the ramparts will only last 25 minutes, covering a 1.1-kilometer track of asphalt and earth tracks. If you want to know more about this hiking trail in Saint-Paul de Vence, you may check this PDF from the official website of the tourism office.

Saint-Paul de Vence to Vence Through Vallon du Malvan

However, if we are onto longer hiking trails with more landmarks to see, I suggest following this trail. Here, we will come across the home of Marc Chagall, Passe-Prest Convent, and the old oil mill. 

This trail is the answer if we look for some kind of adventure in Saint-Paul de Vence. The track passes through Gardettes woods and a small valley of the Malvan River. A slight touch of nature!

The town of Vence is the halfway point of this hiking trail. It is another medieval village with several attractions like Chapelle du Rosaire, ancient washhouses, galleries, etc.

We can skip the returning track to Saint-Paul de Vence from the town of Vence by hopping on bus #400. The buses stop at the Marechal Juin roundabout.

This hiking trail (loop) is about 8 kilometers long and would take up to 2 hours and 30 minutes to finish. It starts at Saint-Paul de Vence’s Sainte-Claire crossroad, where we can find the yellow trail indicators to guide us in directions.

Do not forget to wear comfortable hiking shoes when hiking Saint-Paul de Vence to Vence trail. The track involves asphalt, earth, and rocky footpaths. Check this link for more information about this hiking trail.

… So that’s it! That’s my list of things to do at Saint-Paul de Vence. What do you think? Will you go and visit Saint-Paul de Vence?

Other Places Similar to Saint-Paul-de-Vence

Did you find Saint-Paul-de-Vence beautiful? For me, yes, it is! However, it is not the only village in the South of France to have such charm. Have a look at my list:

Also, in southern France, discover the historic town of Avignon. Here you can find the largest Gothic palace in Europe. See how it looks from my post, Reasons to Visit Avignon.

Helpful Links In Visiting Saint-Paul-de-Vence

I hope you learned and discovered many things about Saint-Paul-de-Vence from my post. To help you further, here are the links to websites or web pages containing information and offering services for a more convenient and insightful trip to Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

1. Brochures — the PDF file of the map and the visiting information of each attraction in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
2. Restaurants — Looking for a place for a romantic date? A cozy spot to relax and eat? Here is the complete list of the restaurants in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
3. Hotels — Are you planning to stay in Saint-Paul-de-Vence for more than a day? Here you can find all the best accommodation deals in Saint-Paul-de-Vence and the surrounding area.
4. Tours — Do you like to visit Saint-Paul-de-Vence, but don’t have time to plan the itinerary? Or do you need help in seeing the bests of Saint-Paul-de-Vence? Here is the list of tours and day trips you must try.

Save it on Pinterest.