Jun 1st - Nice (DT to St Paul de Vence)

 A proper day-trip today but this time to the stunning 13th century hilltop town of St Paul de Vence, one of the oldest medieval towns on the French Riviera.  Renowned as one of the nicest in France, St Paul is noted for its ancient walls, beautiful winding laneways and narrow streets, and its fantastic views of the ‘Med’ and Alps from the ramparts.  It’s also known for its ‘arty’ history, as, amongst others, Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, and James Baldwin, have all lived here with Bill Wyman from the Rolling Stones still here. 


Full of ‘Olde Worlde’ charm we wandered the town’s cobbled streets, lined with quirky shops and galleries, and then walked around the ramparts before visiting the ‘Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs’ (Chapel of the White Penitents - an order of priests).  This is a medieval chapel renovated by the Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon. Decorated with Ravenna-type mosaic (apparently with over 1.6 million pieces of Italian glass!), and with stained glass windows, sculptures, and wall paintings, this is an unusual, but beautiful church that’s really worth a visit when in town. 




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