Saint Paul de Vence: The Light of Painters
Saint Paul de Vence, a medieval town with pointed roofs like tops of pencils as described by Victoria Perkins, has been sought out for painters for its particular light. First image by John Urbancyzk.
The timeless beauty of Saint Paul de Vence by Caitlyn Dabbs
Saint-Paul was founded in the 9th century, so this proves how timeless the city really is. This petite town in 1920 was a host of many painters like Matisse, Soutine, Chagall, Renoir, Dufy, and many more. Artists claimed they were attracted to this beautiful town because of the amazing sunlight and peaceful era of the town itself. When traveling through this village, it is very important to keep your eye out for artistic details is embedded in the stone walls. There are not only colorful paintings but beautiful fountains and religious statues as well. If you walk towards the south side of the town and take a few steep steps up to the top, you will discover the view of a gorgeous cemetery and surrounding towns, hills, and mountains. One other interesting feature of Saint-Paul is that a traveler can see snow-covered Southern Alps on one side and then look over their shoulder to see the sparkling Mediterranean Sea on the other side. This is a magical place with tons of history and secrets that every traveler should journey to.
A tip on exploring the town’s galleries and art in the cityscape by John Urbanczyk:
Saint Paul de Vence is beautiful, medieval architecture chipping away with history, a soft breeze whispering through every street as if to welcome visitors, and an exquisite waltz of light and shadow. Every inch is teeming with life. The wind-torn ramparts of centuries passed are now home to a variety of plant-life: grasses, flowers, fungi, etc. All living out their quiet little lives in this quiet little diamond in the mountains. A town overflowing with artists, Saint Paul de Vence boasts impressive galleries around every corner. Sculpture, traditional paintings, modern art; the creative essence of the town is tangible and endlessly pervasive. Wandering the serpentine streets, you can expect to stumble into no fewer than three residents sketching or painting their surroundings. The walkways themselves even contain hidden gems of artistry, stars, patterns, and other symbolism. Scattered across the breadth of the town, these installations provide a fun game: try and find them all.