There’s nothing more blissful for a person who loves French Country style than visiting the actual French countryside and spending a charming few hours in one of the most picturesque towns. I had that privilege not that long ago when we traveled to the South of France and found ourselves one late afternoon in the prettiest hilltop village in France, Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
Now, I should clarify in case you’re not one of my regular readers, this is a design blog and so you won’t find practical travel information here. But I realized it’s been a while since I did a travel post and with spring on the horizon and the travel season near, I wanted to share the visual beauty of this place and how its oh-so-French lifestyle is such an inspiration to me.
For starters, Saint-Paul-de-Vence is way up on a hilltop, with magnificent vistas of the lush countryside below. Now, anyone who knows me well, knows I don’t do well with heights, but the ride up here was tame and while the roads were narrow, they were mostly free of hairpin turns.
The medieval village is set up like an enclave, literally rimmed by stone ramparts, apparently once needed for fortification. As you approach, you can’t help but be struck by the beauty of the terraced stone structures that lie within.
Just barely inside the town entrance, one is met by the fabled La Colombe D’Or, a restaurant (and hotel) with an impeccable reputation and an even more storied artistic heritage.
Wandering the streets is an absolute joy and our arrival near dusk played well to that spirit. I’ve always loved the late afternoon. There’s a quiet in the streets as the day is winding down, yet there’s an undercurrent of excitement for the coming evening. For me, it’s one of the most relaxed times of the day.
These days what Saint-Paul-de-Vence is most well known for is an array of delightful shops and art galleries that pepper the town, paying homage to its past as home to many brilliant artists, some of whose work remains in town. Chagall is buried here in an ancient cemetery and Picasso, Matisse and Miró have all passed through.
As a counterbalance to all that beautiful stone, the village is graced with lovely plantings, as well, in fact just what you’d expect from a French country garden.
Shuttered windows and terra-cotta pots add color to the landscape and Provençal charm.
Narrow winding streets are perfectly suited for meandering about the village to enjoy all it has to offer. We arrived just in time to catch most of the shops still open, but the afternoon crowds had already departed.
Windows and doors are often the most enchanting aspects of European villages and Saint-Paul held it’s own on that score. This graceful gated balcony with potted topiaries is only one example in a town brimming with such gentility.
As the galleries began to close, we found our way back to La Colombe D’Or for an early evening drink as they started to set up for dinner. This stunning terrace is graced with works of art, as is the rest of the grounds, and when I say works of art, I’m referring to the brilliant artists I mentioned above.
Inside at the bar, a more rustic ambiance reigns.
The lovely hotel that adjoins the restaurant casually displays pedigreed artwork even around the swimming pool.
Can you think of anything more relaxing than a pre-dinner drink at an iconic restaurant in the prettiest hilltop village in France?
As the day draws to a close here, it’s hard to remember what stress is. My only thought is bring on the night…
For hotels, click HERE (*aff link).
Liz @ Infuse With Liz says
Monday, March 7, 2016 at 6:50 amWow what a wonderful place to visit. Your pictures are wonderful. Love the last picture and the capture of that basket handle wrapped around the tall jug on the windowsill.
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 9:53 amThank you so much, Liz!! I love how you appreciate the tiniest details which are what really make the ordinary special… 🙂 Not that Saint-Paul is ordinary, but it’s just those kinds of details that really add to it’s character. Thanks for visiting and always taking the time to comment!!
Rose says
Monday, March 7, 2016 at 7:15 amSo beautiful. Looks just like a post card, how amazing you were able to view this in person.
Have a beautiful French countryside day.
Much love,
Rose
p.s. Love all the pretty flowers. Can’t wait to plant mine. Not till May.
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 9:56 amThanks, Rose!! I dream of going back to this wonderful village all the time. But there’s so much else to see! I have a few more towns to share from this same trip and will do so in future posts… 🙂 I love flowers, too!!
Nellie says
Monday, March 7, 2016 at 8:39 amLory,
What a fun tour and what a great lil town…………So Beautiful……….
We lived in Germany 40 yrs. ago and visited Paris……….there is just nothing like the european culture and architecture.
I always loved those lil narrow streets, and love that they are never in a rush when they are eating and their is sort
of a sweet formality to their meals…………
Thanks for sharing your trip and all these lovely pictures, so enjoyed them. Loved that balcony with the blue shutters and all the plants, so neat. Just so much fun to see all the pretty terrain.
Blessings, Nellie
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 10:00 amHow lucky for you that you got to live in Europe for a while!! What a wonderful experience that must’ve been. Yes, I’m a huge Europhile and can’t get enough of travel there… 🙂 I’m so glad this post was appreciated. I had gotten away from posting about travel since my readers are mostly interested in decor, but it seems we all appreciate the travel that inspires our home decor, so I’m thinking I may get back to adding more travel posts into the mix.
Karenann says
Monday, March 7, 2016 at 8:52 amSo beautiful!
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 9:41 amThank you!!
Frieda says
Monday, March 7, 2016 at 9:30 amMerci de m’avoir fait profiter de ton beau voyage
Les images de ton point de vue et tes mots
apportent tant
Encore merci
Frieda
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 9:49 amJe vous en prie. Merci de la visite et des mots aimables!!
Pat Crowder says
Monday, March 7, 2016 at 11:11 amHow beautiful. I could look at those pictures all day. Thanks for sharing.
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 10:01 amThank you, Pat! So glad they were appreciated. It’s actually fun for me to share, because I get to re-live the trip… 🙂
Angelina @ Peonies & Orange Blossoms says
Monday, March 7, 2016 at 1:03 pmAll of these pictures look like they are from a postcard! Such a pretty town, I find the little narrow streets in Europe so charming (but also scary if you’re driving them!). Thanks for sharing your trip with us!
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 10:04 amThanks so much, Angelina! Yes, lovely and scary at the same time. But I’ll take the small village streets any day over the gorgeous but terrifying cliffside roads. Perhaps my next travel post will be of one of those way high up cliff towns that are stunning but oh-so-scary… 😉 Thanks for visiting!
Linda says
Monday, March 7, 2016 at 6:53 pmBeautiful post, full of lovely photos of France. The hilltop show cases so many wonderful old buildings. There is so much history. I never tire of looking at the photos. We spent two weeks in France. A barge trip down the Burgundy and then Paris.
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 10:05 amOoooh, a barge trip! I’d love to do that!! And burgundy – my favorite wines are from the region, but I’ve never been. Hope to get there some time and I love the idea of a barge trip… 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and visiting with me!!
botanic bleu says
Monday, March 7, 2016 at 9:20 pmLory,
Seeing your photos of St. Paul de Vence makes me want to book a trip to France tonight! For years I traveled as a chaperone with high school students visiting France and got to see many small French villages, including St. Paul de Vence more than once. Your photos remind me of all the reasons we love France.
Judith
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 10:09 amOh, gosh, how lucky for you!! What a wonderful way to travel and see these gorgeous places through the eyes of teenagers… 🙂 Our kids were not with us on this trip, but we have taken them to Europe and it doubles the pleasure to see their reactions along with our own. I’m a firm believer in instilling the travel bug in your kids if you can, because it makes them so open to the world and its cultures. Thanks for stopping by!
sandi magle says
Monday, March 7, 2016 at 10:15 pmHow gorgeous your trip was…getting lost in those narrow streets. Thanks so much for the tour, Sandi
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 10:10 amMy absolute pleasure, Sandi! Thanks for the kind words and for joining me as I shared this lovely village… 🙂
Gina says
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 8:50 amDear Lory, this is a most beautiful post. Your photograph are sensational. Thank you so much for sharing this lovely hilltop village with us. Many of us would not know of it and what a shame that would be.
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 9:41 amMy pleasure, Gina! How lovely to know that the post is appreciated… 🙂 It was such a wonderful place to visit. Thanks for stopping by!!
BOBBI DUNCAN says
Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at 10:46 amLOVED THE ARMCHAIR TRAVEL RESPITE–.BEAUTIFUL! THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES I HAVEN’T YET SEEN BUT, HOPEFULLY, WE’LL GET TO DO MORE LONG-RANGE TRAVELING WHEN OUR HOME REDO IS COMPLETED. THE PICTURES LOOK SO PROFESSIONAL, LORY.
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at 1:25 amThanks, Bobbi! There are still so many places on my list too… 🙂 Hopefully we’ll both get to see all we want to see!!
Stephanie says
Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at 7:35 pmDamn! Lucky you!
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 1:11 am🙂 It was a nice trip. I’d love to go back, but there are so many other lovely villages to see, as well! Thanks for stopping by!
Julie says
Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 7:33 amYou’ve captured some beautiful pictures, Lory! I can see why France is close to your heart. These photos make me want to jump on a plane tomorrow 🙂
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 12:14 amThanks, Julie! Yeah, they make me want to go back too… 😉 Hard to mess up photos of such a gorgeous place!!
Katzcradul says
Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 11:38 amLoved studying these pics. Thanks!
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 12:13 amThank you!!
[email protected] says
Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 11:39 amThose flowers growing on the wall beside the charming door! Your photos are beautiful. Thank you for taking me around the world on a rainy morning.
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 12:13 amYou’re most welcome and thank you for the kind words… 🙂 This trip was actually last year, so it was fun for me to re-live it too!
Stacey says
Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 7:55 pmLory, this just couldn’t be any prettier. The village reminds me of a fairy tale because it’s so beautiful and clean. Where are the throngs of people? This trip must have been a dream come true.
Thanks for sharing with us at Thoughts of Home on Thursday. 🙂
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 12:11 amAh, my pleasure, Stacey!! The throngs probably left by the time we got there. I have very peculiar timing… lol! We had actually intended to get there earlier, but it was a beautiful day so we stayed by the pool at our hotel for longer than expected. By the time we arrived, we were lucky to still catch a few shops open. It’s probably why the light in some of the photos is not so bright. It wasn’t cloudy… it was nearing evening! Lol… 🙂
Cindy says
Sunday, March 13, 2016 at 3:47 pmWow! Such a beautiful place to visit, I wouldn’t want to come home! Such lovely architecture.
Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
Blessings,
Cindy
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Sunday, March 13, 2016 at 9:56 pmThank you so much for hosting and for the feature!! Always such a nice surprise to see… 🙂
Laura Ingalls Gunn says
Sunday, March 13, 2016 at 6:48 pmI have added this to my “So you want to tour France” pinterest board. Your post was truly a joy to read and I hope that you will continue adding your ray of sunshine every week on Thoughts of Home on Thursdays.
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Sunday, March 13, 2016 at 9:57 pmWow, thanks so much, Laura!! I will be delighted to… 🙂 What a lovely comment!!
Heather @ new house new home says
Sunday, March 13, 2016 at 8:06 pmHi lory – you had me dreaming of France so much! And you’ve been featured on Dishing It & Digging It this week!! Hope you’ll head over to check it out and link up what you’ve been up to lately.
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Sunday, March 13, 2016 at 9:57 pmHeather, thank you so much, for hosting and for the feature!! I certainly did head over… 🙂 Thanks again!
the cape on the corner says
Friday, March 18, 2016 at 3:56 pmgorgeous! i am going to look through your other travel posts in case you have any tips/photos for my trip this summer to austria and germany. i was enchanted by etretat, in the normandy area of france, and another village called lyon a foret. all the shops were closed for the afternoon, but we were able to enjoy a delicious meal.
b
Lory at Designthusiasm.com says
Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 8:52 amThank you so much!! Unfortunately, I do not have a post on Austria or Germany. Vienna is way up on my list but have never been yet. I’ve been to several cities in Germany but never with my good camera, so I guess I’ll have to go back… 😉 I do have several posts from France and Italy and quite a few more coming in the near future, and if luck holds out, later in the year… maybe Greece! Thanks for stopping by!!
Véronique says
Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 1:55 amGreat pics Lory, thanks for sharing! I prefer the south-west myself but I will admit it’s pretty 🙂
Lory at Designthusiasm says
Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 4:22 pmThanks! I guess I’ll have to try the southwest next… 😉
Gerri says
Friday, February 9, 2018 at 10:10 amYour photos are amazing! I dream of visiting this village and hope to very soon!r
Lory at Designthusiasm says
Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 1:09 amThank you and I hope you get there! It is quite wonderful… 🙂
Linda Caminada says
Friday, February 9, 2018 at 5:33 pmHi Lory. I’m new to your blog. What wonderful pictures of Saint Paul. My sister and I were there last September. It was an extra excursion on our tour, and I had been there before but I wanted her to see it. It was also late afternoon. Did some shopping and had a wonderful dinner with fellow tourists. One of my favorite towns!
Lory at Designthusiasm says
Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 1:07 amWelcome, Linda! Yes, Saint Paul de Vence is truly exceptional. I would love to return and have more time to shop the galleries… 🙂
Mary says
Friday, February 9, 2018 at 11:40 pmWow, your pictures are absolutely gorgeous, they are all favorites! Looks like a great place to visit. Thanks so much for sharing.
Lory at Designthusiasm says
Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 1:08 amThank you so much, Mary!!
Norma Rolader says
Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 11:11 amSuch a beautiful place and thank you for sharing … hopefully one of these days I will get to travel there
Heather Gaume says
Sunday, February 11, 2018 at 6:31 pmLovely, lovely, lovey. And though not a structural engineer, I would hesitate to garden on some of those beautiful but not noticeably well supported balconies. Just admire them from below!
Linda Clemmer says
Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at 8:08 pmDear Lory: What a beautiful destination. The first photo reminded me of the narrow streets of Mykonos, Greece. We were so fortunate and blessed to travel to so many wonderful places when we were younger. At those times we said we would travel while we were able and pay for those times when we were older. Well we have reached that time and only travel to resorts within driving distance. You MUST travel now! All you will have eventually are memories. Enjoy! Linda
Lory at Designthusiasm says
Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 2:22 amThank you so much for this comment! We visited Mykonos last June and it was blissful… 🙂 I will pay heed to this advice as best I can!
Anna Moser-Gallego says
Friday, March 22, 2019 at 9:53 amOh Lory, your post brought back such a flood of happy memories of visiting St. Paul de Vence many years ago with my late husband and our 2 children! Yes it is absolutely the most beautiful village, and believe it when I say its beauty and charm have not changed over the years. We bought a painting in one of the galleries, and it still graces the walls of my house as a happy reminder of that trip. Thank you for your post!
Lory at Designthusiasm says
Friday, March 22, 2019 at 11:56 amWhat a lovely comment!! So glad the post resonated with you and brought back happy memories… 🙂
chardonnaylynn says
Friday, March 22, 2019 at 12:47 pmTres magnifique!!!!
Dianne Long says
Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at 9:03 amLori – What memories your post brought back to me. It is one of my fondest memories of France. My husband, daughter, and I were there several years ago. Hope to make it back some day. Thank you for the post.