Vence

Travel guide and tourist information

Travel Guide > Towns > Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur > Alpes-Maritimes > Vence

GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION		CLOSEST TOWNS
Town	Vence	Saint-Paul-de-Vence at 2.1 km (3 min)
Insee code	06157	Tourrettes-sur-Loup at 5.4 km (11 min)
Postcode	06140	La Colle-sur-Loup at 7.7 km (16 min)
Latitude	43.7225660	Saint-Jeannet at 8.4 km (17 min)
Longitude	7.1137840	La Gaude at 9.3 km (19 min)
Altitude	From 40 to 1033 meters	Villeneuve-Loubet at 9.8 km (19 min)
Surface	39.23 km²	Cagnes-sur-Mer at 10 km (20 min)
Population	19479 inhabitants	Gattières at 10.5 km (22 min)
Density	446 inhabitants/km²	Le Bar-sur-Loup at 14 km (31 min)
National label		Carros at 15.8 km (32 min)
Chief town	Nice (at 22 km, 28 min)	Coursegoules at 17.1 km (35 min)
Department	Alpes-Maritimes	Saint-Laurent-du-Var at 17.8 km (29 min)
Region	Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur	Search another town

LOCATION

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TOWN PRESENTATION

Vence, faces of Provence ... It is indeed good that this is Provence and the coast yet within range of light is far and suddenly the old town, with houses weathered by time and its markets where rendezvous all true herbs, gives us a "country" than the coast. Sitting on the foothills of the Alps, balcony overlooking the Mediterranean and the Riviera, Vence is a jewel that had the chance or the ability not to lose his soul. A kind of magic, a timeless grace this town lives and privileged. Many painters have tried to capture the landscapes and colors of their paintings: Matisse, Dufy, Chagall, Dubuffet, Soutine, Carzou ... and many others.

In the streets of the historic center has kept all its character, on the shady squares and sunny terraces, one discovers here gastronomy Vence smelling olive oil, garlic, thyme, thyme, savory ...

SIGHTSEEING

City History - vast open-air museum, more than 2000 years of history to tell visitors - in the shape of an ellipse (from the historical path to the Tourist Office).
The Ash, painted by Soutine, legend attributes the planting of ash to the visit of François 1st in 1538. In the north, views of the valley of the Lubiane the Baous and the Chapel of the Rosary.
Château de Villeneuve: thematic exhibitions on the art of the 20th century.
Vence contains within its walls many galleries and artist studios. If some of them can not be visited, most accessible to the public.
Outside City history:

The Chapel of the White Penitents, whose originality lies in its architectural spire: a remarkable glazed tile dome. Note, stalls and soil that has retained its old brick octagonal tiling.
The famous Chapel of the Rosary, designed and decorated by Henri Matisse. The Rosary Chapel, a masterpiece designed by Henri Matisse is a monument of sacred art in the world. From 1948 to 1951, Matisse drew the plans of the building and details of its decoration: stained glass, ceramics, stalls, clams, religious objects, vestments ... For the first time, a painter created a monument in its entirety, from architecture to furniture and stained glass. The first stone of the chapel was laid in 1949. The inauguration and consecration to Our Lady of the Rosary, held in 1951. For Henri Matisse, "this work asked me four years of exclusive work hard, and it is the result of my working life. I consider all its imperfections as my masterpiece." Matisse Chapel is open Monday, Wednesday, Saturday from 14 to 17.30 - Tuesday and Thursday from 10 am to 11:30 am and from 14 to 17.30. Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 10am. Closed: Mid-November to mid-December.

Activities proposed by the Tourist Office:

The Tourist Office offers guided tours in English, French, German or Italian on request (from 5 persons). You're going to discover 20 centuries of history and tradition.
A rental bowling balls with a fact sheet on the rules of the game (available in French, German, Danish, Italian and English).
Hikes as you wish. During walking, you can admire the clean lines and harmonious colors of the country Vence. You will discover through the trails releasing a mixture of original and subtle scents of Mediterranean and alpine flora, the wonders of Provence. The hikes proposed by the Tourist Board together in one place the seduction of Mediterranean scrub scented thyme, picturesque villages and at your feet ... the Big Blue.
Vence, Route d'Art Sacré. Vence whose diocese is the smallest of the kingdom of France, still has many chapels offering a path left over the centuries by the builders of Sacred Art (course available at the Tourist Office).
Vence Course in Water. At the foot of Baous, crossed by three rivers, has two Vence sources, more than 24 fountains and a laundry (Water Courses available at the Tourist Office).

Detailed information
Information points	Tourist Office of Vence
Leisure centres	Swimming pool of Vence
Monuments	Cathedral of La Nativité-de-Marie, Chapel of the Rosaire

EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS

Vence, city festivals and cultures, offers throughout the year many events to promote the region, its traditions but also from elsewhere with music every summer on the Place du Grand Jardin, the festival of nights South.

RELATED ARTICLES
Vence	The old medieval town, the Matisse chapel, the Nuits du Sud festival
Alpes-Maritimes travel guide	Best places of the Alpes-Maritimes
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur travel guide	Best places of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Photos of Vence	Photos of the category "Vence" to view and download
Photos of the Alpes-Maritimes	Photos of the Alpes-Maritimes to view and download
Photos of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur	Photos of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur to view and download