ST. PAUL-DE-VENCE, FRANCE: TRAVEL GUIDE TO THE MEDIEVAL VILLAGE
St. Paul-de-Vence is a hilltop medieval village in the South of France. It’s located less than an hour from the busy coastal city of Nice, but feels like a completely different world and era thanks to the cobbled lanes that wind their way through a labyrinth of stone corridors lined with historic fountains, picturesque churches and little homes. The village cannot be missed if you’re in this region of France, visit either by day trip or overnight stay. Below is my complete guide to St. Paul-de-Vence including the best sights, viewpoints, restaurants, hotels, travel tips and more.
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Picturesque scenes from atop the medieval walls.
WHEN TO VISIT ST. PAUL-DE-VENCE
- APRIL, MAY, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER – Shoulder season typically offers comfortable weather, fewer crowds and moderate pricing for hotels and Airbnb’s. September in particular is my favorite month to visit.
- JUNE-AUGUST – This is the busiest time of the year in the South of France. Temperatures can get pretty toasty, and the price of lodging soars during high season.
- NOVEMBER-MARCH – Crowds thin out in low season when the weather cools off with the possibility of rain.
Gelato at the Fontaine de Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
HOW MANY DAYS IN ST. PAUL-DE-VENCE
TWO DAYS. While it’s certainly possible to visit St. Paul-de-Vence as a day trip, I loved staying overnight in the medieval village to really soak in the slow life and experience the place without tourists.
- DAY TRIP – The village is tiny, walkable and doable as a South of France day trip. It’s a 40-minute drive from Nice, and I suggest an early arrival to secure a parking spot before the day trippers pour in by late morning.
- OVERNIGHT – An overnight stay offers the complete village experience. With a full day there’s ample time to see the sights, visit viewpoints and eat at the best restaurants, all at a relaxed pace. It’s also nice to start and end the day in the village, feels a bit less touristy.
La Placette is a beautiful little square along the Rue Grande.
ST. PAUL-DE-VENCE TRAVEL TIPS
- CURRENCY – The official currency of France is the Euro. Almost everywhere accepts credit card, but it’s always useful to have cash handy for smaller purchases.
- COBBLESTONE – Be prepared for uneven footing that can be slippery at times – almost all the corridors and pedestrian lanes are made from cobblestone.
- DINNER RESERVATIONS – If you plan to grab dinner in town, make a reservation to ensure you get a table at your restaurant of choice, especially for outdoor seating.
- CROWDS – The village is busiest from 11 AM to 4 PM. Best to arrive early morning if you want to experience a more serene atmosphere.
Maison de Jacques Prevert is an iconic house that has gone viral on social media. The historic home is actually a rentable two-bedroom apartment called La Miette.
PLACES TO VISIT IN ST. PAUL-DE-VENCE
COLLEGIALE DE LA CONVERSION DE SAINT-PAUL
The main church in town dates back to the 13th century. The inside isn’t too exciting, but the exterior is very picturesque, and the bell tower is the tallest point in the hilltop village. Worth a stop when strolling through the maze of cobbled lanes.
FONTAINE DE SAINT PAUL DE VENCE
This medieval fountain sits on a bustling square along the Rue Grande and serves as the beating heart of St. Paul-de-Vence. It’s a lovely gathering place for photos, gelato and people watching, surrounded by art galleries, cafes and small boutiques.
LA PLACETTE
La Placette is a small courtyard along the Rue Grande, and it’s one of the most picturesque spots in the village. A stone drinking fountain that sits surrounded by a cluster of medieval houses, straight out of the pages of a fairytale.
MAISON DE JACQUES PREVERT
This is the most famous structure in St. Paul-de-Vence. And for good reason. It’s beautiful! It’s the former house of the French poet and screenwriter Jacques Prevert, and dates back to the 12th century. The facade of the two-story stone house is covered in green ivy, and surrounded by blooming flowers. Note that the lower level is actually a rentable apartment (although I don’t recommend staying here).
ROUTES DES SERRES VIEWPOINT
It’s hard to find a great panorama of the hilltop village. The best, unobstructed view is probably along the Route des Serres, near these Google Maps coordinates.
RUE GRANDE
Rue Grande is the main artery of the village that starts at the entrance to St. Paul de Vence. The bustling pedestrian lane is lined with boutiques, sweet shops, restaurants, cafes and historic sites.
ST. PAUL-DE-VENCE CEMETARY
Beautiful 16th century cemetery just outside of Old Town on the Puy Plateau. The cemetery is the resting places of several notable figures including painter Marc Chagall and chef Georges Auguste Escoffier.
There are so many picturesque lanes in the village, it’s truly a storybook stroll.
WHERE TO STAY IN ST. PAUL-DE-VENCE
Chateau Saint-Martin & Spa is an absolutely stunning five-star property located 15-minutes north of St Paul-de-Vence. You won’t get the overnight village experience, but the hotel is close enough for early morning and evening visits. The chateau boasts eight centuries of history, but has been completely updated to a luxury retreat. There are more than 40 rooms, six opulent villas and a Michelin-starred restaurant on property.
This beautiful Relais & Chateaux hotel sits in the middle of St. Paul-de-Vence overlooking sweeping views of the surrounding Provencal countryside. Everything is a short stroll away, and Hotel Le St. Paul is the only five-star property in the village. Some might find the rooms a bit dated, but the design is fitting for the medieval France setting. This is the best lodging option within the village walls.
La Miette is a rentable two-bedroom apartment that occupies the lower level of the iconic Jacques Prevert house. It’s the most beautiful structure in the village. That said, I stayed here, and left completely underwhelmed. While there is amazing history to the 12th century house, half of the living space feels underground and claustrophobic. The restrooms are weird. And the highlight of staying here is the lovely terrace, but after 9 AM it’s hard to enjoy because tourists are constantly in front of the house, and sometimes even climbing onto the property. Nonetheless, still linking the property here, as it’s one of the most popular apartments in town.
Le Domaine du Mas de Pierre is another Relais & Chateaux property, this one located less than 10-minutes south of St. Paul-de-Vence. It houses 76 rooms and suites that were completely renovated in 2021. Everything feels very new. And the Provencal setting is lovely – stone buildings, dreamy pool, white cabanas, sun beds, thatched rattan umbrellas, etc.
This lovely property sits just outside of St. Paul-de-Vence. Toile Blanche is a family-run boutique hotel home to 17 suites set amongst neutral stone buildings, fragrant lavender, blooming gardens and two outdoor pools.
It’s easy enough visit as a day trip, but I recommend staying overnight.
EAT IN ST. PAUL-DE-VENCE
DOLCE ITALIA
Delicious gelato shop in the village that serves more than a dozen flavors including passion fruit, stracciatella, torrone, tiramisu, hazelnut, banana, coffee and more.
LA TABLE DE PIERRE
Michelin guide restaurant located inside the Le Domaine du Mas de Pierre. Some items are available a la carte, but the artful tasting menu is the go-to here. Sample menu items include asparagus with honey and yuzu, beef cutlet, red mullet, herbed lobster and a fabulous dessert platter. Reservations recommended.
L’EPICERIE DES ARTISTES
L’epicerie des Artistes is a snack window in town that is a quick stop for small bites – crepes being the highlight. The perfect afternoon pick-me-up.
LES REMPARTS
This is one of the loveliest dinner settings in the village. The restaurant terrace sits perched over sweeping views of the valley below. Menu offerings include clams with parsley, sea bream, ravioli, burger, sirloin and more. Reservations recommended.
LE SAINT-MARTIN
Absolutely gorgeous fine dining setting located just outside of St. Paul-de-Vence. The ambiance is incredible – artful dishes, stone columns, white table clothes and spectacular views of the surrounding countryside and Cote A’zur. Reservations recommended.
LE TILLEIL
Charming restaurant that sits at the entrance to the village. Dishes can be hit or miss, but the evening setting on the terrace is quite lovely. Service is a bit slow. Reservations recommended.
CAFE TIMOTHE
Cozy cafe stop for light bites, treats and coffee.
Quick crepe at L’epicerie des Artistes.
GET AROUND ST. PAUL-DE-VENCE
St. Paul-de-Vence is a pedestrian village made up of cobbled corridors and lanes that can only be explored on foot. Arrive early to nab paid street parking along Rte. des Serres, the road that leads to the entrance to the village. It fills up by late morning. If street parking isn’t available, there are a handful of paid lots around the village that can be found here.
They say the village roots date back more than one thousand years.
GET TO ST. PAUL-DE-VENCE
The closest airport to St. Paul-de-Vence is the Nice Airport (NCE). From the airport it’s a 25-minute drive. and most major car rental brands have locations on-site at the airport. It’s not as convenient, but the village can also be reach by bus if you don’t plan to rent a car in the South of France.
Fairytale vibes in St. Paul-de-Vence.
