Things To Do in St-Paul-de-Vence

Perched at the top of the village, the Collégiale de la Conversion de St-Paul was constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries and has been much altered over the years. The Romanesque choir is the oldest part, containing some remarkable stalls carved in walnut in the 17th century. Look to the left as you enter: You’ll see the painting Ste-Cathérine d’Alexandrie, which has been attributed to Tintoretto. The Trésor de l’Eglise is one of the most beautiful in the Alpes-Maritimes, with a spectacular ciborium. Look also for a low relief of the Martyrdom of St-Clément on the last altar on the right. It’s open daily 9am to 6pm (to 7pm July–Aug). Admission is free.

Just around the corner is the light-flooded Chapelle des Pénitents Blanc (tel. 04-93-32-41-13). The artist Jean-Michel Folon, who worked on this masterpiece until his death in 2005, decorated the church with modern stained-glass windows, shimmering mosaics, and rainbow-hued frescos—the 17th century meets the 21st. It’s open May to September daily 10am to 12:30pm and 2 to 6pm, and October and December to April daily from 10am to 12:30pm and 2 to 4pm. Admission is 3€ adults, 9€ for a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) nd free for children 12 and under.

With advance booking, the local tourist office offers 8 different walking tours of the town’s historic core and outskirts. Themed tours (8.50€ to 20€, free for children under 12 or under 6, depending on the tour) last around 1 hr. They include following in the footsteps of former resident Marc Chagall, trying your hand at the beloved Provençal pastime of pétanque (also known as boules) under the instruction of accomplished locals, or the brand-new back in time, virtual reality tour. Almost all tours are given in both English and French.