Vence: The Riviera That Feels Like Home

The useful part

The sea disappears behind you, and suddenly you are surrounded by olive trees, old stone walls and the first glimpses of the mountains. It is close to Saint-Paul de Vence — very close — but it doesn't feel like its neighbour. We recently took you to Saint-Paul de Vence, a village whose name is known around the world.

How it works

• Its ramparts, artists, galleries and extraordinary setting have made it one of the great Riviera destinations.
• A Town, Not a Stage Set This may be the easiest way to explain the difference.
• You walk through its gates and immediately feel that something remarkable has happened here.
• Someone is always sitting outside a café having a conversation that clearly started half an hour ago.
• If you're considering moving to the Riviera rather than simply owning a place here for a few weeks a year, that rhythm matters.

What to take from it

🥖 The Little Things Become the Luxury One of the things I find most appealing about Vence is that its pleasures are surprisingly ordinary.

Details worth keeping

Saint-Paul de Vence is wonderfully compact and theatrical. A walk when the evening light begins to soften.