Page 81 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

THE RIVIER A AND THE ALPES M ARITIMES  79

stalls are carved with satirical
figures. Marc Chagall designed
the mosaic of Moses in the
Bulrushes in the chapel (1979).
Henri Matisse (see pp86–7)
decorated the Chapelle du
Rosaire between 1947 and 1951
to thank the Dominican nuns
who nursed him through an
illness. An exhibition is dedicated
to Matisse’s preparatory drawings
for the chapel.
E Fondation Emile Hugues
Château de Villeneuve. Tel 04 93 24
24 23. Open Tue–Sun. Closed 1 Jan,
1 May, 25 Dec. & =
R Chapelle du Rosaire
Ave Henri Matisse. Tel 04 93 58 03 26.
Open Tue & Thu: am; Mon–Wed & Sat:
pm Closed mid-Nov–mid-Dec,
public hols. &

tSt-Paul de Vence
Road map E3. * 3,500. @ Vence
and Nice. n 2 rue Grande (04 93 32
86 95). ∑ saint-pauldevence.com
This classic medieval village perché
(see pp24–5) was built behind the Simone Signoret and Yves Montand in St-Paul de Vence
coast to avoid Saracen attack.
Between 1543 and 1547, it was Colombe d’Or auberge (see p210). gold reliquaries and a fine local
re-ramparted, under François I, Today the auberge has one of the auberge has one of the auberge 13th-century enamel Virgin. The
to stand up to Savoy, Austria and finest 20th-century private art Musée d’Histoire Locale nearby
Piedmont. A celebrity village, it collections, built up over the years features waxwork costumed
was first “discovered” by Bonnard, thanks to the owner’s friendship characters and a tableaux of
Modigliani and other artists of with artists and sometimes in lieu scenes from the town’s rich past,
the 1920s. Since that time, many of payment of bills. The priceless and the old castle keep adjacent
of the rich and famous literati dining-room décor includes is now used as the town hall.
and glitterati have flocked to paintings by such world-famous Just in front of the museum, the
St-Paul de Vence. Most famously, artists as Miró, Picasso and Braque. 17th-century White Penitants
these personalities slept, dined, In the Romanesque and Baroque chapel was decorated by
and, in the case of Yves Montand church, there is a painting, Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon.
and Simone Signoret, had their Catherine of Alexandria, attributed The main street runs from
wedding reception at the to Claudio Coello. There are also the 14th-century entrance gate
of Porte Royale and past the
Grande Fontaine to Porte Sud.
This gives on to the cemetery,
a resting place for Chagall, the
Maeghts and many locals. It
also offers wonderful views.
Just outside St-Paul de Vence,
on La Gardette Hill, is Josep
Lluis Sert’s striking concrete
and rose Fondation Maeght
(see pp80–81), one of Europe’s
finest modern art museums.
E Musée d’Histoire Locale
and Chapelle Folon
Pl de la Mairie. Tel 04 93 32 41 13.
Open daily. Closed 1 Jan, Nov,
Entrance to Chapelle du Rosaire in Vence, decorated by Henri Matisse 25 Dec. &