Saint-Paul de Vence

Saint-Paul de Vence is the perched village an hour from Nice where Chagall, Picasso and Matisse all lived at one time. Dated from around 400 B.C.E. it is probably the most charming of the area's fortified towns at the top of hills from which defense was the objective. Hot oil could be poured on your opponents below. Before gunpowder this was especially important.

In the 20's there was an inn with a three guest rooms where the host Paul Roux accepted paintings as payment for meals and lodging. Today this is known as the Colombe D'Or, the Michelin-starred restaurant and inn. Rick and I ate lunch there on Father's Day, Fête des Peres. I had salmon soufflé and green beans. Really fun. We also looked around the village at the shops and went to the Fondation Maeght, a major museum in the area, integrating architecture and sculpture of Jean Miro, Giacometti and others.

Later, we went to the Matisse Chapel, also located in the hills outside Nice. Then we went to Monte Carlo for a day before saying, au revoir à la belle France.

lifeonthemediterranean.com