DESCRIPTION

Perched in the Moyen Pays (middle country) just above the sea and leaning against the Baou rugged limestone mountains, Vence continues to stun visitors. The village enchants many. Its special light, climate, ramparts and ruins of the past blend with the festive and friendly ambience, making it a captivating town. Many artists have passed through: Matisse and Chagall, amongst others. Today, they are part of the history of this medieval town on the Côte d’Azur.

HISTORY

The history of Vence goes back a long way, to the beginning of the Palaeolithic and Neolithic Eras, as has been revealed by archaeologists. It should be noted that Vence has a curious geographical location. Tribes found a safe haven for themselves and their livestock here, and had access to water at the foot of the Baous, thanks to the Rivers Var and Loup. The Nerusians, a small Celto-Ligurian tribe, settled here and founded Vence. Vestiges of their presence have survived to this day. Conquered by Rome in 151 B.C., this village of indomitable folk joined Provence. Significant sites and ruins bear testament to the Roman occupation. Around the Third Century, the village converted to Christianity and a century later the diocese of Vence was founded. The cathedral superseded the temple dedicated to Mars. Amongst the bishops of Vence, there was a Pope, Paul the III, two academicians, Godeau and Surian, and two saints: Véran and Lambert. The town then fell into the hands of the Barons of Villeneuve who, with the help of the bishops, conjointly Lords of Vence, held the town until the Revolution. The latter ended their reign and the diocese lived out its last days before disappearing entirely. Only in the Twentieth Century did the first tourists start to visit. Artists fell under the spell of the town and made it a centre for art. This is the place where many pieces of art were created.

ENTERTAINMENT

The year is punctuated by various shows and events such as the "Bataille de Fleurs" in May (literally, flower battle); the Marché des Potiers (potters’ market) during the summer months; a festival celebrating traditions makes it possible to (re)discover traditional music and dance as well as the trades of old; there are also cultural and film events, entertainment on the Place du Grand Jardin for Christmas, and so on. However, the largest event is undoubtedly the Festival des Nuits du Sud. The Nuits du Sud is renowned and contributes largely to the town’s influence. The audience can discover world music thanks to the extremely eclectic programme (jazz, electro, salsa, soul, tango, etc.). From Europe to Latin America (Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Brazil and Venezuela, etc,) including Africa, the greatest musicians come to share their tunes in Vence.

LEISURE

You can discover a great cultural heritage and twenty centuries of history through tours organised by the town. Vence is also one of the few places to have preserved its medieval ramparts. In addition to the Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité, Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité built on a Roman temple dedicated to Mars, there are several chapels in Vence, including the Chapelle du Rosaire designed and decorated by Henri Matisse, Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs, Chapelle Saint-Raphaël, the Chapelle Sainte Anne, the Chapelle Sainte Colombe and the Chapelle Sainte Elisabeth. In the old part of town is Château De Villeneuve, , built in the Eighteenth Century. The watchtower, which is annexed to the château, dates back to the Twelfth Century. There is a little trainfor tourists to visit Vence.
For walkers, several routes enable you to discover the town and surrounding area, such as the Parcours de l’eau and the Col de Vence.
In July, 2009, Vence inaugurated the Rétif Museum, dedicated to modern art.

LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS

The town of Vence is located between the villages of Coursegoules and Saint-Paul. Not far away are the towns of Tourettes-sur-Loup, La Colle-sur-Loup, Saint-Jeannet, La Gaude and Cagnes-sur-Mer and a bit further along the coast, are big cities, including Mandelieu, Cannes, Antibes Juan-les-Pins, Nice and Monaco.

By air :
Nice Côte d’Azur International is the closest to Vence (16 kms).

By road :
Take the A8 motorway (exit 48 when heading for Nice/Marseille and exit 47 when heading for Marseille/Nice). Vence is situated about 15 minutes from the motorway.
By train :
The closest railway station is at Cagnes-sur-Mer. You can then take the number 400 bus.

See all Hotels in Vence.