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MORE ABOUT SAINT PAUL DE VENCE ...
 Around 120 BC : The Romans managed to repress the turbulent Ligureans on the French Riviera. Peace installed itself, and villages were built in the ancient defences. Saint Paul is one of these.
10th century : the first evidence of the existence of "Castrum de Sancto Paulo", which is now a large market whose importance is to grow throughout the centuries. Managed by consuls, Saint Paul enjoys a large financial and administrative autonomy. Many of Provence's great families live here.
From 1480 : Saint Paul, county town of Viguerie, is one of the most important fortified towns of eastern Provence.
1443: The donjon, vestige of the 14th century château, houses the town hall and the a clock, whose mechanism was activated in 1443
1547: The current ramparts were completed. François de Mandon of Saint-Rémy remodelled the previous fortification completely, creating angular bastions and tilted walls to divert missiles. A structural design, of which Vauban will make a plan, 120 years later.
Until 1747: At the time of great religious turbulence and then the wars of succession, Saint Paul is one of the main fortresses of the catholic league. It will open its gates to numerous visitors, looting and devastating invaders or allies. Massacres, vandalism, sowing famine causing a decay of the region, but Saint Paul recovers and stresses its' importance.
1860 : When Nice became French, Saint Paul wasn't a deserted bastion any longer.
In 1904 : There are many ruins that observers have written about, "It's a miracle that the ramparts are still standing". Nowadays, with 7000 visitors per day, Saint Paul is one of the most visited sites in Europe.
 From 1945: The enthusiasm rises, the houses of the village bring back life, and the ruins come back to life. From every country, of every confession, lovers move here and live their passion. Loïs Hutton created a small theatre where one will see many European royals, James Baldwin and Jenny Clagett own a lounge and Fred Witte paints the alleyways. Between times Picasso, Braque, Chagall, Dufy, Hartung, Bonnard, Miro, Léger and plenty of others, are in Saint Paul. In 1964 : When Malraux opens the Maeght Foundation, the world of cinema enters Saint Paul: Carné, Kosma, Allegret, Clouzot, Signoret, Montand, Ventura, Géret ..., then the whole of Hollywood. From then on organisers of holidays include the visit to Saint-Paul-de-Vence in their tour.
The streets found their liveliness again, houses are full of laughter, more than 40 windows expose the original work of contemporary artists. Actors of artistic heritage/inheritance, they feed everyday life with collections of tomorrow. The Maeght Foundation is unquestionably the most famous temple of contemporary art. Created through the will of the Maeght couple.
Points of interest : Le village - La Fondation Maeght
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