Also known as St. Paul-de-Vence, which is handy, since there are nine other "St. Paul"s in France and a slew of St. Paul-de-somewhere's.
St. Paul is a beautiful medieval fortified village perched on a narrow spur between two deep valleys. Its location gives you a great view of the village from the La Colle road to the east or the Cagnes-Vence road to the west.
Although the village itself is one of the most intact medieval examples of the region, with much of the ramparts still there, it's hard to see anything inside the village except other tourists. "Off season", the village is full of tourists. During the summer and holidays, the village is so packed with tourists that they walk shoulder-to-shoulder through the narrow streets. Except for the ramparts and the typical old houses, the most predominant things to see in the village are the scores of art galleries, tourist shops, pseudo "artisanal" shops; all very expensive.
Vence, 3 km up the road, is also beautiful, more relaxed, has more realistic shops and art galleries, and fine terrace cafés.
Tourrettes-sur-Loup, another 3 km west of Vence, is small and picturesque like St. Paul, but with far fewer tourists, and the artisanal shops there are run by the artists themselves.
The Russian born painter Mark Chagall is buried in the Saint Paul-de-Vence cemetery. At the entrance, take the first right and the next left. Chagall has a simple white tomb. The small stones are added by visitors as tributes (from a Russian and Jewish tradition).
The seaside resort town Saint Tropez is still very popular with the tourists, although the jetset and the in-crowd have long since left it behind. Set on the lovely blue water of the Bay of Saint-Tropez, this modern version of a medieval town is most popular for the line of yachts along the quai, and the facing line of terrace cafés, divided by a parade of strolling tourists and slow cruising expensive cars
Port Grimaud is a water based village designed by the famous 20th century architect Francois Spoerry in 1966. Streets emerge from the water and the town can only be accessed by boat or on foot. Lots of Venetian-style bridges cross the waterways, linking the different ‘streets’. After the bustle of the rest of the Cote d’Azur it is extra-ordinarily quiet and peaceful.
The houses are built in a very simple style, with the height and colour of the buildings being the main difference between them. The colours used are all terracottas, creams and dusky pinks. The overall effect is very simple but quite beautiful.
The history of Eze
It was around the Iron Age that settlers chose Eze as the perfect spot to set up home, building up ramparts and fortifications, some of which still remain. When visiting the old town one gets the sense of going back in time. By happily losing your way in the maze of lanes and passages or climbing the stone staircases you will discover its secrets and be stunned by the dramatic, panoramic sea views and hidden historical treasures.
Eze is an exceptional place, just like its heritage, rich with the mysteries and adventures of its prior citizens from days of old, who created one of the most interesting and amazing places for today’s privileged international visitor to relish.
It was after the fall of the Roman Empire that the town began to build its protective fortifications against the constant onslaught of attacking pirates and destructive feuding of the local nobility. Today you can still see the Moorish influence in the architecture of certain buildings and in the gateways with their typically Eastern design. In the main church ancient Egyptian symbols are a clear reminder of the divinity of the sun and the worshipped Isis goddess, signs of this small town’s noble and magical origins with links to the powerful civilization of the Pharaohs.
Monaco is the second smallest country (by size) in the world; only the Vatican City is smaller. Monaco is also the world's second smallest monarchy (and principality to be more exact), and the most densely populated country in the world. The state consists of only one municipality (commune). There is no geographical distinction between the State and City of Monaco, although responsibilities of the government (state-level) and of the municipality (city-level) are different. According to the constitution of 1911, the principality was subdivided into three municipalities:
- Monaco (Monaco-Ville), the old city on a rocky promontory extending into the Mediterranean, known as the Rock of Monaco, or simply Le Rocher (the Rock), where the palace is located
- Monte Carlo, the principal residential and resort area with the Monte Carlo Casino in the east and northeast
- La Condamine, the northwest section including the port area, Port Hercule
The municipalities were merged into one in 1917, after accusations that the government was acting according to the motto "divide and conquer" and they were accorded the status of wards (quartiers) thereafter.
- Fontvieille was added as fourth ward, a newly constructed area reclaimed from the sea (in the 1970s)
- Moneghetti became the fifth ward, created from a part of La Condamine
- Larvotto became the sixth ward, created from a part of Monte Carlo
- La Rousse/Saint Roman (including Le Ténao) became the seventh ward, also created from a part of Monte Carlo
150 years ago Cannes was nothing more than an unimportant fishing village.
Since then it has become an elegant city known round the world and attracts an international clientele.
- the city on high (Haute ville),
- the old port
- rue Meynadier
- the Palace of festivals
- the Croisette
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