History & Heritage

Medieval walls encircle narrow streets and capture the heritage of more than a thousand years. Picking out the marks of history, either alone or with a guide, is to enter into the soul of Saint-Paul de Vence.

The fountain at the heart of the village fills St-Paul's medieval vaults with music. To quote the poet Verlaine: "The fountain's silvery murmur plays on."

Moments in time

Castrum, border stronghold, artists' haven… Skim through the history of a village that has crossed the centuries.

See key milestone

Monuments & Sites

Journey through time and discover a rich patrimony that includes 11 listed historical monuments.

See monuments & sites

A stroll through the village

Walk through the narrow village streets exploring every nook and cranny.

See the itinerary

Celebrities

Marc Chagall, Yves Montand, James Baldwin... Famous names and celebrity couples who have left their mark on the history of Saint-Paul de Vence.

See famous people

The cobbles on rue Grande

The streets of Saint-Paul de Vence were bare until the beginning of the 1950s, when Mayor Marius Issert had them laid with cobbles positioned on their sides in the Provencal tradition.

The first cobbles came from the beach at Cagnes sur Mer.