Discover the Charm of Artists' Villages in Provence

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Many famous Impressionist and Expressionist painters fell in love with Provence's quaint medieval villages and sun-drenched seaports

Description

The legacy of this cultural heritage is seen in the numerous museums and art galleries scattered throughout the region's towns.

The medieval hilltop town of Saint-Paul de Vence has been popular with artists since the 1920s. Marc Chagall lived here for 20 years, and during that time, he painted prolifically. The Office of Tourism offers "In the Footsteps of Marc Chagall" guided tours.

Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon adorned the Folon Chapel in Saint-Paul de Vence with splendid paintings, sculptures, and stained-glass windows. Other well-known 20th-century artists also found inspiration in Saint-Paul de Vence, and their works are on display at the Fondation Maeght, a prestigious cultural foundation and one of Europe's largest modern art collections.

Near Saint-Paul de Vence is another perched medieval village, Vence, worth a detour to see the Chapelle du Rosaire in the outskirts of town. Matisse added his post-Impressionist decorative flair to the stained-glass windows, paintings, and art objects that adorn the chapel.

Saint-Rémy de Provence is famous for its association with Vincent van Gogh, who stayed here for a year at the Saint-Paul de Mausole asylum. The Musée Estrine displays works by Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries. Over 20 of the sites in Saint-Rémy de Provence that the artist painted are indicated on the "Promenade dans l'Univers de Vincent van Gogh" trail.

Biot is a tiny village in the countryside where Fernand Léger resided briefly. The Musée National Fernand Léger displays the works of the celebrated avant-garde artist, from his Impressionist paintings to Cubist pieces. For such a teensy town, Biot surprises visitors with its abundance of art galleries and artisan shops tucked away on quiet side streets.

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