Saint-paul-de-Vence on the map of France. Cote d'Azur, Saint-Paul-de-Vence

Very close to Nice, literally 20 km to the west, among green hills covered with dense pine forests, there is one of the most picturesque and charming towns of Provence - Saint Paul de Vence. In this town, everything pleases the eye, everything delights, everything surprises - the massive fortress walls framing the city, the medieval buildings made of local stone that create a unique flavor, and the numerous art galleries located in this ancient splendor, representing, it seems, the entire palette of artistic creativity . A fortress city, a city of craftsmen, a city of artists and painters, Saint Paul is known far beyond the borders of France as unique place, where the bountiful nature of the south of France, its history and art come together under a piercing blue sky.

The town arose in the 11th century as a small fortress near sea ​​coast, then in the 16th century during the reign of King Francis the First it was surrounded by a continuous fortress wall and turned into a southern outpost of the Kingdom of France.

After the annexation of Nice to France in 1860, it lost its strategic importance as a royal fortress and became a pleasant place away from the hustle and bustle of the coast, favorite place relaxation and inspiration for the artistic elite of Europe. At the beginning of the last century, such unique masters as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Chaim Soutine, Georges Braque, Joan Miró, Paul Signac, Amedeo Madigliani, Maurice Utrillo, Pierre Bonnard, Fernand Léger lived and worked here.

Among the modern masters who have graced the city are Theo Tobias, Guliano Mancini, Luc Trezen, Remy Pesca and Michel Folon, and he has been sung by poets such as Jacques Prévert and Andre Verdet. World-famous writers - Simone de Beauvoir, Colette, Andre Gide, Jean Paul Sartre, Paul Valery and many others lived here for a long time, enjoying the local hospitality and drawing inspiration from the peaceful atmosphere.

In the post-war period, the town was chosen by the cinematic elite of France; the narrow medieval streets were known to Yves Montand and Simone Signoret, Ariel Dombasle and Bernard Levy, Lino Ventura, Fernandel, Gerard Philippe and many others who fell under the spell of this amazing place.

But among the recognized geniuses of world art there is one whose life and destiny are forever intertwined with Saint Paul de Vence. This is Marc Chagall.

Chagall fell in love with the Côte d'Azur of France during his first visits to the coast after his final emigration to Europe. “Je remercie le destin de m'avoir conduit sur les bords de la Méditerrané" - “I thank fate for bringing me to this coast,” he wrote. In the post-war period, he was a frequent visitor to the south of France, lived for a long time in Vence and Nice, but already in 1966 he finally moved to Saint Paul de Vence, where he built the villa “La Colline” on a hillside near the entrance to the city. From the villa to the fortress walls of San Pol there is a small path paved with stone, along which Chagall walked almost every day to the town, enjoying the stunning panorama of both the fortress itself and the opening sea coast. Often, wanting to capture the landscape he liked, the purity and transparency of the air, the enchanting atmosphere surrounding it, he stopped right on the path and drew, painted... This is how a unique series of paintings arose, which can probably be called “Views of San Pol”.



Chagall, these are, first of all, colors, the most incredible, bright, unexpected, a real riot of colors. I love looking at these amazingly colorful paintings, in which love clearly and tangibly flows through the captured landscape, the artist’s love for his beloved, the enchanting southern sky, for life... These paintings are like a dream, a fabulous, magical and unique dream...

And the more enjoyable it is to walk along this path in search of the places from where the master wrote his masterpieces.

The best time to walk in Chagall's footsteps is in the spring, in April or May, when acacias, wisteria and orange trees bloom wildly around you, filling the air with a heady aroma... The path winds between the trees and the stone walls of ancient Provencal houses, winding, going down and up the hillside. After the next turn, you suddenly come to a point from which a charming and somewhat familiar view of Saint Pol opens up - well, of course, this is where Chagall wrote his “Lovers over Saint Pol”!



The town's mayor's office two years ago installed reproductions of Chagall's paintings in some places, so now you can even compare the painting and the original.



All the first floors of this amazing fortress town have been turned into art galleries, boutiques, shops with souvenirs and local gastronomic products. The most interesting thing is that here, along with high art and works of recognized masters, you can see outright primitiveness and timid attempts by novice artists to present their works on display. The paintings, oils, watercolors, graphics, sculptures, bronze, glass, crystal, lithographs of already famous and recognized artists displayed behind the windows - everything mixed into a single colored, colorful and attractive canvas.



Exhibits are constantly updated, old workshops are closed, but new and interesting names appear. The level of some galleries is amazing - in a small showcase they exhibit sculptural compositions Dali, yes, these are originals, yes, they are for sale, although the price is steep. The hostess laughingly suggests that we buy it quickly, since in a couple of weeks everything will be sorted out. One word - crisis...





And the street runs further and further and leads straight to a small municipal cemetery, hidden behind the trunks of impressive centuries-old plane trees. It was here that, having lived in San Pol for almost 20 years, our compatriot, the great artist Marc Chagall, rested and sleeps eternal sleep. His grave is surprisingly modest, on a marble slab decorated with barely visible angel wings, the dates of his life are 1887 -1985. He did not live long enough to reach his centenary, having retained up to last days amazing creativity and love of life. Next to him lies his last muse, his second legal wife, Valentina Brodskaya, better known as Vava Chagall. The artist captured this image of her flying over San Pol on his canvases. Or maybe it depicts his first lover, Bella Chagall, who died so tragically and suddenly in 1944 in America? Now no one will know this...



Immediately from the cemetery, a narrow path, winding and going around the fortress walls, leads to a small hill with an abandoned wooden bench, blackened by time. Silence, no one, only the bee humming quietly, flying from flower to flower, and the ringing of bells could be heard from afar. Suddenly, the ear catches a familiar melody from these sounds - “Moscow Evenings”.

Dream? Did we fall asleep unnoticed on this magical bench?

The singing is getting louder, it comes from a house in the valley, surrounded by blooming cherries. A multi-voiced choir diligently sings everyone’s favorite song and we, no longer surprised by anything, mindlessly soar, enjoying the light breeze, the smell of irises and acacias, somewhere between heaven and earth, in the clouds, above the incomparable enchanting San Pol.

For those wishing to walk in the footsteps of the great artists of the Cote d'Azur - rendezvous on the website www.guides-azur.org

Saint-Paul-de-Vence (France) is a medieval village that is rightfully considered a “living” art gallery. Many famous guests have stayed here, there is large number art installations, works by the most famous contemporary artists and much more. With the help of this article, we invite you to plunge into the magical world of the streets of the part of Nice - Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

What kind of miracle place is this?

Saint-Paul-de-Vence is located on a hill, fifteen kilometers from Nice. This is not a city, since the size of the settlement does not allow it to be called that, but it is not a village either, because this is not the case with culturally and historically significant places. Locals and many tourists call this place a one-street city.

Saint-Paul-de-Vence arose (photo can be seen above) at the turn of the 8th century. During these times, the inhabitants of the coast went to the mountains, tired of the raids of the Saracens. There they built themselves a home. And in 1538, the settlement was fortified by Francis I.

Saint-Paul-de-Vence is built up with small houses from the 16th to 18th centuries, made of stone. The facade or entrance of each is decorated with flowers in tubs and pots, as well as climbing plants. The town is very popular among creative people. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that most of the buildings are reserved for galleries or workshops of artists and sculptors. At one time, such celebrities as Catherine Deneuve, Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot, Jean-Paul Sartre, Yves Montand, Alain Delon, Marc Chagall stayed here. The latter, by the way, spent the last years of his life here and rests in the local cemetery.

What to do?

This small town tourists love it very much. Therefore, you need to go here in the morning to avoid crowds and crushes, at least in transport. There are several in Saint-Paul-de-Vence observation platforms, from which stunning views of the valleys of Provence and the Alpes-Maritimes open, monuments, installations, mosaics, and various objects of art are found everywhere. There are many cafes and small restaurants where you can also touch creativity and get inspiration. Even the signs here are a real work of art.

In addition to the fact that in Saint-Paul-de-Vence you can enrich yourself culturally and have a delicious meal, you have the opportunity to buy souvenirs: various figurines and postcards with the symbols of the city, small copies of famous art installations and paintings, and much more. You can do this in souvenir shops or at the market, which is open from Tuesday to Sunday. You can also buy fresh vegetables, fruits and local flowers here.

Or perhaps you yourself will be so imbued with the spirit of creativity that you will want to draw a picture and take it with you. To do this, you can purchase paints, brushes and paper at your local store.

Saint-Paul-de-Vence attractions

In a small area, you can come across an interesting object or building at literally every step. The most famous is the only hotel “Golden Dove”. Artists of the 20th century loved to spend time there and often paid their bills with their paintings. Now within the walls of the hotel there is a rich collection of originals of popular artists. Famous actors, writers, and poets also stayed here.

In addition to the fact that various art objects are located on the streets of the town, there is also the Fond Mag gallery. It contains collections of paintings, drawings, graphic works of the 20th century, and sculptures. There are permanent and temporary exhibitions.

On the narrow streets you can find a horse statue made of horseshoes, several monuments and many fountains, next to which there will definitely be green spaces. Also in Saint-Paul-de-Vence there is an ancient chapel of the Order of White Penitents. When you enter it, you feel like you have stepped back in time. On the walls of the building frescoes by Giovanni Canavesio himself have been preserved.

The local cemetery deserves special attention. As stated above, Marc Chagall rests here. But that’s not the only reason it’s popular. A small area does not look depressing, as you might imagine at first. Here it’s the other way around: the cemetery seems to have become another platform for creativity.

Gastronomic tourism

If you think that by coming for a dose of inspiration, you risk being left without lunch, then you are clearly mistaken. In Saint-Paul-de-Vence there are small restaurants and cafes where you can taste not only beautiful, but also very tasty dishes. Look at the price of inexpensive pancakes with jam!

Local delicacies include: panis (golden fried chickpea flour dough), la porcheta (baked stuffed seabass with fennel (grilled stuffed fish). All this can be enjoyed on the summer terraces.

And wine lovers should visit the wine cellar, which was built back in the 14th century. It is located in the very center of Saint-Paul-de-Vence. The wine library has a large collection of Provençal wines, which you can drink on the spot or buy as a souvenir. Here you can find the best vintage wines and products from the best wine cellars in France. Also in the cellar you can find bottles of Armagnac, Calvados, vodka, and liqueur.

Festivals and holidays

No city is complete without themed holidays. There are fifteen such events that are permanent in Saint-Paul-de-Vence:

• festivals exhibitions in the gallery "Fond Mag" in winter and summer;
• March Poets Festival and Olive Oil Festival;
• June festivals of music and St. Jean;
• summer outdoor festival;
• July competition of the Provençal game of pentak and ball;
• August feast of St. Clare;
• September days cultural heritage;
• October chestnut festival;
• December Christmas market.

On such days, the influx of tourists in small Saint-Paul-de-Vence becomes even greater. But the planned events amaze with their varied and rich program. And since it’s only an hour to get to the town, you can stop overnight in Nice to fully experience the spirit of the planned celebrations, which last for several days.

Route Nice - Saint-Paul-de-Vence: how to get there?

The journey from Nice to Saint-Paul-de-Vence takes about an hour by bus. Route No. 400. Ticket price - 1 euro. On weekdays the bus runs every 20-25 minutes from 6:55 to 20:20. On Saturdays, dispatch occurs once an hour from 7:50 to 20:30. On Sundays and public holidays, buses from Nice run 1-2 times per hour from 8:00 to 20:30.

By car, you can reach Saint-Paul-de-Vence via the A8 motorway, taking road no. 48 in the direction of Marseille. The city is a fifteen minute drive from the main highway. You can leave your car at the entrance to the settlement.

Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a medieval fortified village that, thanks to its famous guests and inhabitants, has become a “living” art gallery and a Mecca for art dealers on the Côte d'Azur. Walking through the narrow picturesque streets of the village, from the Royal to the South Gate along the pedestrian Grand Street, you will find magnificent stone facades of the 16th-18th centuries with skillfully decorated portals of window openings and doors, private well-kept gardens, miniature medieval squares with ancient fountains and soaring into the sky , whitewashed chapel walls. And, of course, you will also discover many craft shops, artistic studios where you can meet local artists, and art galleries of the highest level. Here they sell works by the most famous artists and sculptors of the 20th century, who in one way or another connected their lives with Nice and this secluded corner of the French Riviera.

How to get to Saint-Paul-de-Vence

The village is located on a picturesque mountain peak 20 km from Nice. You can get here by car or bus from Nice (Gare Routiere, direction to Vence, 3 EUR, 55 min.). Buses run every 40-60 minutes, so it is better to check the flight schedule in advance. On way back You can pay the driver for the ticket.

Prices on the page are as of August 2018.

Search for flights to Nice (the nearest airport to Saint-Paul-de-Vence)

A little history

Saint-Paul-de-Vence arose at the turn of the 8th century as a fortified refuge (“stone nest”) fleeing from the Saracens, the inhabitants of the coast. In 1538, by order of Francis I, this outpost was surrounded by a fortress wall. The village differed little in architecture and local way of life from many neighboring settlements and could have remained only a “nice cozy outpost” near the Riviera, but in the 20s of the 20th century this place, perhaps due to its picturesque landscapes and panoramas, was chosen by artists from Paris: Signac, Bonnard, Utrillo, Modigliani and others.

They stayed at the Golden Dove Hotel (La Colombe D'Or), often paying for board and shelter with their work. The owner of the hotel, Paul Rouault, certainly did not lose out: now the hotel owns an impressive collection of works by such world-famous artists as Utrillo, Vlaminck, Dufy, Bonnard, Soutine, Picasso, Modigliani, Cocteau and Chagall. These paintings are quietly hung throughout the hotel, including in the rooms, and are already an integral part of the unique artistic atmosphere of the Golden Dove. So the hotel and the village itself turned into a cult corner for fans of fine art.

In the 50s, the charm of the artistic world of Saint-Paul-de-Vence attracted famous film actors, writers and intellectuals. So Brigitte Bardot, Greta Garbo, Sophia Loren, Burt Lancaster, Catherine Deneuve, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir began to visit the Golden Dove. Here Yves Montand and Simone Signoret met and celebrated their wedding, who bought the legendary hotel and restaurant a few years later. Marc Chagall and the author of Lady Chatterley's Lover, David Herbert Lawrence, spent their last years in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

In Saint-Paul-de-Vence, the legendary restaurant of the Golden Dove Hotel still welcomes guests, but the popularity of this place on the Cote d'Azur is so high that a table must be reserved literally a month in advance. But without prior agreement you can get into the wonderful little shack “Cockade”. This very simple place in terms of interior professes the values ​​of organic cuisine: dishes are prepared exclusively from organic products of local origin. The menu is short - only one page, but every dish is, if not a poem, then at least a blank verse. Be sure to try the ravioli stuffed with basil and garlic, a dozen large snails and a bottle of homemade rose wine. The average bill is 30-35 EUR.

Popular hotels in Saint-Paul-de-Vence

Chapel of the rosary by Henri Matisse

One of the most striking architectural attractions of Saint-Paul-de-Vence is the snow-white Chapel of the Rosary, built and decorated in the mid-20th century according to the designs and sketches of Henri Matisse.

After a serious operation, which the artist underwent in 1941 at the Lyon clinic, Matisse was cared for by a Dominican nun named Marie-Ange. She later said about Matisse that she “never saw a more courageous, even heroic, or more delicate patient.” The artist, in turn, admitted to her that he would like to create a chapel project as a sign of gratitude. According to Marie-Ange, he filled many sheets of large albums with architectural sketches, sketches of painting, stained glass and sculpture, and even church vestments. Little by little, the outlines of the future church began to appear on paper, returning vitality and desire for creativity to the master.

After some time, the artist returned to the Regina Hotel in Nice, where he had settled since 1938, and the nurse Monique Bourgeois began to look after him, who, after taking monastic vows at the Dominican monastery in Vence, introduced Matisse to the priest Pierre Couturier, “the man an inspired and true reformer of church art." This is how a miniature chapel was born with a minimalist, modest decoration and an extravaganza of colors and sunlight on stained glass windows and wall mosaics.

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Museum "Fondation Mahe"

One of the most famous and beautiful small museums in the world, a temple of 20th century art, which was opened in 1964 by the Parisian publisher, collector and major art dealer Aimé Maheu in a beautiful pine grove half a kilometer from Saint-Paul-de-Vence. The fund's exhibition includes paintings by Bonnard, Braque, Matisse, Chagall, Kandinsky, Léger, sculptures and mosaics by Miro, Arp, Calder, Giacometti.

The museum is notable not only for its unique collection of the best works of fine and plastic art of the 20th century, but also for its curious architecture by the Catalan José Luis Sert. The collector’s friends and “artistic advisors” took part in the design of the museum complex: the glass mosaics restored in the neighborhood, the chapel and the fountain in the sculpture garden were created by Braque, the furniture in the small garden cafe was designed by Giacometti, and Chagall made a wall mosaic panel for the main building of the foundation .

A special find of the sculpture garden is the observation platforms, which allow you to simultaneously enjoy the surrounding panorama and works of art. And the local library, numbering more than 30 thousand volumes dedicated to contemporary art, open to the public.

An entrance ticket to the museum will cost 16 EUR, a discounted ticket for a group visit (from 10 people), students and teenagers from 10 to 18 years old - 11 EUR. 5 EUR will have to be added for the opportunity to take photographs. More detailed information on the museum website.

Another real treasure of Saint-Paul-de-Vence is the chapel of the Brotherhood of White Penitents (Chapelle des Pénitiens Blancs), dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Unique frescoes by Giovanni Canavesio, one of the best representatives of the little-studied school of “primitivists of Nice,” have been preserved here.

Brotherhoods of colorful penitents - black, white, green, red, brown - arose in Genoa in the 14th century. A century later, they appeared on the French coast and in the cities of Provence. The brotherhoods united Catholic parishioners who took on the responsibilities of caring for the sick, burying the dead, and providing hospitality to pilgrims and the homeless. Members of the fraternity recognized each other by the color of their clothes. The Brotherhood of Black Penitents united mainly sailors and fishermen, and whites - farmers. Associations of these ascetics have survived on the Cote d'Azur to this day, although today they are very few in number.

Next door to Saint-Paul-de-Vence is the picturesque Provencal town of La Colle-sur-Loup, which is famous on the French coast for its perfume compositions from the “May rose” and the quarter of antique dealers and artists near the street Klein.

Saint-Paul-de-Vence is one of the most beautiful places Provence (France) - was built on a rocky hill and tightly surrounded by a fortress wall under Francis I. The natural beauty and romantic spirit of the medieval fortress attracted famous writers and artists who spread the fame of the Provencal town.

While vacationing on the Cote d'Azur of France, it would be a sin not to see the sights in the area.

I want to talk about our trip to Saint-Paul-de-Vence. This is a tiny town nestled in a medieval fortress on one of the peaks of the Maritime Alps.

Saint-Paul on the map of France - an hour's drive from Nice

The distance from Nice, where we lived, is 18 km in a straight line. Bus number 400 runs from the bus station in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, making several stops along the way. The bus ride takes about an hour.

Sights from the Golden Dove to the present day

I saw too many similar “medieval” towns and fortress states, such as San Marino or Monaco, when I was in France that I lost interest in them.

I was persuaded to go to Saint-Paul-de-Vence by friends with whom I spent time on the Cote d'Azur.

I had to agree. The day before in Monaco, I twisted my ankle, fell and could barely walk. The prospect of limping alone through Nice or hobbling on the wet pebbles of the beach was not encouraging. I decided that sightseeing was not a bad alternative to sitting in a hotel. In addition, the city is small, you don’t need to move around much. They promised to carry me one by one :)

On the advice of the “experienced”, we left the hotel early in the morning. They say that around lunchtime there is an influx of tourists and the narrow streets are crowded.

Having taken my first steps in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, I was glad that I did not stay in Nice.

Narrow ancient streets

The observation decks offered amazing views of the valleys of Provence and the Alpes-Maritimes; everything seemed literally imbued with the spirit of creativity.

Live pigeon 😉

Saint-Paul-de-Vence differed from similar “medieval” cities in France in that there were monuments, workshops, installations, mosaics and other art objects everywhere.

A horse that is tempting to ride. The inscription prohibits)

The cat is of Italian origin, the creation of Giuliano Mancini. In the background is the restaurant La Petite Chapelle

There is also a popular museum of modern art.

The city gained fame in the 20s. of the past century - in local hotel "Golden Dove"(La Colombe D'Or) Parisian artists began to spend time. They often paid for their housing with their work. Now the hotel houses a rich collection of originals by famous authors.

After the artists, people of art - actors, writers, poets - flocked here en masse.

Famous hotel

Among the famous names who visited Saint-Paul-de-Vence: Catherine Deneuve, Yves Montand, Greta Garbo, Brigitte Bardot. Simone Signoret and Yves Montand had a wedding in de Vence.

Marc Chagall loved this place and lived in it until his death. His grave is located in the local cemetery - another attraction.

Burial place of Marc Chagall

What was shocking was that Russian tourists were photographed against the backdrop of the grave, taking seductive poses. We tried to explain that this was disrespectful, but after another wave of women, we resigned ourselves to failure and left, unable to withstand the pressure of the elements of Russian tourism.

Provençal pancakes

There are many cafes and restaurants in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. We were hungry, but we kept finding new sights to see and capture in a memorable photo. Having become completely hungry, we went to choose a restaurant. There were many of them near the gates to the city.

On the way, we came across a place where they fried and sold inexpensive pancakes. I especially liked the pancakes (crêpes) with lemon jam (citron). We ate so many of them that we no longer wanted to look for another cafe. I got the hang of ordering them in French for our whole group:

Bonjour madame. S'il vous plaît six (6) crêpes au citron. Merci beaucoup.

The “amateur photographers” I met immediately from the cemetery looked at me with envy, pointing at the menu. They didn't know that that was almost all of my French vocabulary, except for "Je ne mange pas sis jour."

We did not try to convince them, and, having bought souvenirs, we went back, proud of our knowledge of languages ​​and the defense of the cemetery.

You can't come to Nice on holiday without visiting Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a small, picturesque village located just a few kilometers from the city. This village is a real, living work of art, where every street has its own charm.

A little history

The settlement was founded in the 8th century by settlers from the coast. People living on the shore were subject to constant raids by the Saracens, they were forced to flee to the mountains, where they founded new fortified villages, Saint-Paul-de-Vence became one of them. Many years later, when the settlement became part of France, by order of King Francis 1, the outpost acquired a stone wall and was recognized as an important strategic site. Perhaps this town would have remained an ordinary outpost if famous artists of the 20th century had not fallen in love with it. Artists from all over France came here in droves, trying to find their inspiration here.

All these celebrities stayed at the only hotel with unusual name"Golden Dove" Many guests paid for their shelter with their original works. Now the hotel has turned into a real gallery. Here you can see works by such famous artists as Picasso, Modigliani, Dufy, Bonnard, Chagall. The last of them loved this place so much that he lived here for the remaining years of his life and was buried in the local cemetery. Over the years, the popularity of this picturesque town has only grown, and now you can meet celebrities from all over the world here.

Attractions

The entire village consists of houses from the 16th to 18th centuries, each of them is a piece of history in itself. Now these buildings house artists' workshops and art galleries dedicated to various artists.

French city of La Rochelle

In the squares of Saint-Paul-de-Vence you can see various sculptures by famous masters, one of them is an authentic copy of “The Thinker” made by Rodin himself. The original sculpture is kept in the Rodin Museum in Paris.

Expert opinion

Knyazeva Victoria

Guide to Paris and France

Outside the city there is a pine grove in which the Mayo Foundation is located. This building is real architectural masterpiece, its construction was carried out by the Catalan architect José Louis Sertom. They also like to call it “The Louvre on the Cote d'Azur”. This gallery contains paintings by artists who worked in the 20th century.

Within the city limits there is the world-famous Golden Dove Hotel. The hotel has thirty rooms and twenty apartments. Famous artists, actors, poets and writers constantly stay here. At one time, Alain Delon, Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot and many others stayed there.

Where to go in Saint-Paul-de-Vence?

This small town is very popular with tourists, so in order not to stand in traffic jams for hours and not to participate in the crush in public transport, it's best to come here early in the morning. The city has several observation platforms from which you can admire the beauty of the Alpes-Maritimes and the Provence Valley.

The settlement is full of various restaurants and cafes, each of which allows you to touch art and get inspired. But don’t be fooled; no one here will die of starvation. People here love to cook not only beautiful, but also delicious dishes. The favorite delicacy of the residents of this town is sea bass with fennel (stuffed fish baked on the grill). When talking about food, one cannot fail to mention la porchetta (roasted suckling pig) and panis (chickpea flour dough fried until golden brown).

Expert opinion

Knyazeva Victoria

Guide to Paris and France

Drink lovers simply must visit the wine cellar in the very center of the city. It was built back in the 14th century and houses the largest collection of Provençal wines. Here you can try the best vintage wines from all over France or buy them as a souvenir.

Holidays

No self-respecting city can do without themed holidays; there are more than 15 in Saint-Paul-de-Vanstuches. The most interesting of them:

• Christmas market in December;
• chestnut festival in October;
• cultural heritage day in September;
• Saint Clare's Day in August;
• Provençal pentak competition and ball in July;
• outdoor festival in summer;
• Saint Jacques's Day in June;
• Poets Day in March;
• exhibitions at the Fondation Mayo gallery in winter and summer.

Arcachon France

IN holidays Finding a hotel room is almost impossible, so it is better to stay overnight in Nice. And in the morning you can go to the holiday; you can get to the village in just an hour. All events amaze guests with their diversity and rich program.