Saint Paul de Vence

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Around 120 BC

The Romans concurred the violent Ligures of the Côte d'Azur. With peace prevailing, villages were built on old defenses. Saint Paul was one of them.
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10th Century

In this Century, the first evidence of "Castrum de Sancto Paulo" was aparent; a large village that became increasingly important over the centuries. Managed by the Consuls, Saint Paul had large financial and administrative autonomy. Prominent families of Provence settled there.
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1443

The Keep, remaining from a fourteenth century castle, now houses the town hall and an ancient clock, from 1443, whose mechanisms have continued to regulate its chimes even today. Since 1480, Saint Paul, capital of Viguerie, is one of the most important fortified towns in eastern Provence.

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1547

The construction of the ramparts were finished. François de Mandon of Saint-Rémy completely remodeled the previous fortification, created angular bastions and sloping walls to deflect projectiles; architecture that Vauban would adopt 120 years later.

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Until 1747

During major religious troubles and the "wars of succession," Saintt Paul was one of the main strongholds on the Catholic side. It opened its doors to a number of visitors which consequently let in invaders or their allies. Massacres, and vandalism struck the region but Saint Paul was able to recover and emphasized its importance.
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1860

When Nice became French, Saint Paul became nothing but an abandoned and useless bastion, which soon disappeared from maps and encyclopedias.  At the beginning of the century, the enormous upswing of tourism and the arts attracted illustrious visitors, crowned heads and well-known artists to this ghost town that had slumbered for a century.
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In 1904

With so many ruins, observers wrote the following: "It is a miracle that the ramparts are still standing," "It seems no one has ever climbed those stairs," "Saint Paul threatens to totally collapse." Today, with 7000 visitors per day, Saint Paul is one of the most visited sites in Europe.
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From 1945

The city's popularity increased, the houses in the village become reinhabited and the ruin came back to life. From all countries, from all religions, lovers of Saint Paul settled in the city to live their passion. Loïs Hutton had created a small theatre where one can see Europe's royals. Over the years, Picasso, Braque, Chagall, Dufy, Hartung, Bonnard, Miro, Légermany and many others called Saint Paul home. In 1964, when Malraux opened the Maeght Fondation, the cinema world came to St Paul: Carné, Kosma, Allegret, Clouzot, Signoret, Montand, Ventura, Géret...and then all of Hollywood. Tour operators have been including trips to Saint Paul in their itineraries. The streets have found their spark, houses are full of laughter and more than 40 storefront windows  showcase the original works of contemporary artists. The Maeght Fondation is undoubtedly the most famous temples of contemporary art. Created by the Maeghts, a husband and wife couple, the museum is a shining example of the most intelligent partnerships in culture.

Main attractions : The old village - the ramparts - the Maeght Fondation.