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Parking and crowds in St Paul de Vence in early June

Posted by (North Carolina) on

i will be in the Cote d’Azur for a week in late May/early June (arriving after the end of both the Monaco Grand Prix and the Cannes Film Festival). I’ve read indications that it may be less crowded in that area than in July and August, due mainly to European vacation schedules.

For my last two days on the Riviera, I’m going to have a car (which I will then drive into Provence). I was considering visiting St. Paul de Vence as part of a hill town day trip, but I’ve read that it is overrun with tourists. I’m trying to decide if I should give it a miss and perhaps visit Tourettes-sur-Loup (suggestion from RS Riviera/Provence book) or another town instead. I don’t mind crowds up to a point—I don’t expect to have an interesting place to myself—but pedestrian near-gridlock isn’t my idea of a good time.

So I’m wondering: am I likely to see crowds but perhaps not a mad crush in St Paul de Vence during the first few days in June since maybe it isn’t quite the high season yet? Or am I being too optimistic?

Also, where is the closest parking (paid is okay) to the ramparts in St Paul de Vence? I’ve done some research and it sounds like after you park you might still have a walk of 15-20 minutes just to get inside the walls.

Melissa

Posted by
27115 posts

I took the bus to St-Paul-de-Vence (and the much less busy but also less fabulously-situated Vence), so I can be of no help about parking issues.

My visit was during the first half of May 2017, and it was indeed pedestrian gridlock--like Taormina but smaller. It was not a pleasant environment for me, though the architecture and views were great. If you like art, the Fondation Maeght is marvelous, and it wouldn't make sense to go there and not see (briefly) the village itself. It is a good little walk from the museum to the village, and I have a vague recollection of seeing cars parked between the two. Maybe Google Maps' Earth View will help.

I was given a hot tip about Tourrettes-sur-Loup by a local but didn't have time to take advantage of it. It sounds very worthwhile. And I did like Vence's historic area, which was basically devoid of other visitors when I was there (probably during the afternoon siesta).

Posted by
11156 posts

And Venice has the famous Matisse Chapel too.
We were at St-Paul de Venice and Maight Foundation the same time as your visit, right after Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Gran Prix. Neither were overly crowded, and we ate a nice lunch on a patio in St-Paul. We went by bus from Nice.

Posted by
678 posts

I've been in June and it was not too bad -- we stayed over several days on a househunter trip. I have heard the stories about peak crowds. Earlier and later in the day may be better, to avoid the tours. Much quieter at night.. There is a garage near the main gates, just outside the walls, operated by Parking Indigo -- it is pretty tight. There are surface spaces off a side loop street off Route de Serres that tend to fill up quickly. Bus 400 from Nice will also take you there as well.

Tourettes-sur-Loup is a great little village as well, with some great restaurants as well. (And of course there is Vence). If you continue past shortly you will arrive at Gourdon, a spectacular hill-top village.

Posted by
3595 posts

The previous posters have listed some of the attractions of St.-P de V. While I am no fan of huge crowds, I consider it “must see.” If I’m remembering correctly, some of the best-known modern artists, like Picasso, Miro, and Matisse, stayed in the town while they produced works for Fondation Maeght.
There is an outdoor sculpture garden with walls decorated by Picasso.
I believe we parked at the garage mentioned above, and walking to where we wanted to go was not unduly strenuous.
Tourettes sur Loup is a nice, much quieter village. Present-day craftspeople and artists have taken up residence in the medieval quarter, so it can be fun to wander through and see what they are producing.
Vence is really a small city, but it does have an authentic medieval quarter, also quite attractive.
I would rank St.Paul #1, with the other 2 tied for second. With 2 days, you should easily be able to see all 3.

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