Vence

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Vence is an inland town on the French Riviera.

It is an attractive old town surrounded by a ring of hills with splendid views down to the Merranean over Antibes and Cagnes-sur Mer. It has an mild climate throughout the winter months because the hills on the northern side of the town protect it from the cold which can make the winters in the Var region to the west, very uncomfortable.

Vence has always attracted artists, writers and poets. Dufy, Matisse, Chagall, Dubuffet, Carzou, Arman, Anthony Mars and D.H. Lawrence have all been part of the Vence scene.

	vence Travel Guide : 1 Get in 2 Get around 3 See 4 Do 5 Buy 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Sleep 9 Get out 10 External links

Get in

From Nice airport, take the A8 towards Cannes, exit at Cagnes-sur-Mer and drive north on the D36.

Get around

Most sites in Vence are within walking distance of each other, but there is a "petit train" that links them together, and can be useful for getting to the Matisse chapel if you prefer not to walk too far.

See

The chief attraction of Vence is the town centre which consists of a pleasant main square with numerous cafés and restaurants spread around three sides, and particularly the old medieval city (" vieille ville").

The cathedral (9:00-18:00 daily) houses a Chagall mosaic.

The Château de Villeneuve, Fondation Emile Huges, Place de Frêne, 04 93 58 15 78, houses a changing variety of art exhibits, mostly modern. Hours: Summer 11:00-19:00 daily; Winter 10:00-12:00, 14:00-18:00, closed Monday.

The Place du Frêne was named for an enormous ash tree that is said to have been planted in 1538, in memory of the visit of François I and Pope Paul III. From the end of it there's a good view of the Baou des Blancs and Baou des Noirs - the two giant cliffs that rise above the town. Baou is a provençal word meaning "rocky spur".

Do

Enquire at the tourist office for details of local events such as guided photographic tours and botanical walks (French essential).

Go on a self-guided walking tour of the old town. Pick up a map from the tourist office, and follow the numbers, reading on panels (in French and English) about the ancient gateways, fountains, Roman remains and other fascinating sites.

In July and August, Vence hosts "Les Nuits du Sud" - open air concerts on Friday and Saturday nights. Acts are various, but favour Cuba.

Buy

The old city center has a number of pleasant shaded alleys which provide plenty of cool shade in the summer, some delightful restaurants, shops, art galleries and the Hotel de Ville.

Eat

Vence has a wide range of restaurants, from the 2 Michelin starred Maximin at the top end down to various pizza places and cafés at the lower end. What is difficult to find is anything other than French cuisine (with the exception of Italian and Vietnamese/Chinese) - this probably won't bother you if you are on holiday, but if you are a resident, you may want to take a trip to Antibes or St Laurent du Var for their Japanese, Thai and Indian cuisine.

The following restaurant reviews are ordered from most expensive to least expensive, with a rough indication of cost being given.

• Jacques Maximin Table d'Amis (http://www.restaurant-maximin.com), 689, chemin de la Gaude, 04 93 58 90 75. Booking essential, especially in summer.
• Le Château du Domaine St Martin (http://www.chateau-st-martin.com), avenue des Templiers, 04 93 58 02 02. Humungeously expensive, with a view to die for, this is a place for a serious splurge or a celebration. Very good value weekday lunch ?47. Menus ?60, ?74 and ?100.
• Auberge des Templiers (http://www.restaurant-vence.com), 39, avenue Joffre, 04 93 58 06 05. Stephan Demichelis has travelled widely, studing under such luminaries as Chibois , Willer, Tarridec, Rostang and Girardet. The cooking is assured, and makes good use of offal, truffles and foie gras. The atmosphere is a little too formal. Menus at ?39 and ?49. Booking advised in summer.
• Le Vieux Couvent, avenue Alphonse Toreille, 04 93 58 78 58
• La Farigoule, 15, rue Isnard, 04 93 58 01 27. Possibly the most adventurous cooking in Vence, served in a pretty courtyard in summer. Patrick Bruot chooses local ingredients and presents them with a twist. Booking advised in summer.
• La Litote, 5 rue de la Evêché, 04 93 24 27 82. A new chef has arrived this year (2005) and brought with him a touch of Nice flair. However, prices are high, and the cooking uneven while he settles in.
• Le Restaurant Les Béatilles, 8, rue du Marché (summer terrace on place Clémenceau), 04 93 58 04 17. Closed Mo. Vincent Dhumes cooks alone in his tiny kitchen, aided by his wife who runs front of house. There is a short carte and two menus at ?25 and ?39 that change weekly. The cooking is skillful and inventive, Vincent is self-assured and his cooking can rarely be faulted. Eat at the table of a future Michelin chef before he's famous! Booking advised in summer. Update - as of September 2005, the Dhumes have moved to be near their family in Toulon. Another young couple have taken over the restaurant - reports needed. ?30-?70
• L'Armoise, 9 place du Peyra, 04 93 58 19 29. Fish rules at this tiny restaurant - which this year gains a few outside tables in the place Peyra. A good place to try bouillabaise - one of the few places you can have it without ordering it a day in advance. The proprietor is friendly and helpful, and speaks good English. Booking advised in summer.
• Le Trouquet, 13, place du Grand Jardin, 04 93 58 64 13. Quality is mixed at this touristy restaurant at the side of the square. Some dishes, such as the boudin with roasted apples and mash are excellent, but the standard menu fare can be average. The waitress has the most interesting haircut (and piercings) in town.
• Le Clémenceau (http://www.brasserie-clemenceau.com), place Clémenceau, 04 93 58 24 70 A rival for the best coffee in Vence, and a much better location away from the traffic and surrounded by the old town. The menu is ordinary and can be expensive if you plump for the steaks - but the rabbit and lamb, roasted in the wood-burning pizza oven with local herbs are excellent and worth the cost.
• Brasserie de la Victoire, place du Grand Jardin, 04 93 58 01 18. This café serves the best coffee in Vence. The chef extends the fairly standard menu (steaks, pizza, croques, pasta) with daily specials which can be good - and exceptional value.
• La Taverne St Veran, 2 place Surain, 04 93 24 00 98. A friendly local restaurant with a fairly standard menu of pizza, pasta, steaks and excellent salads. Big portions if you're hungry (and even if you're not!).
• Saveurs d'Asie, 1 rue de l'Hôtel, 04 93 24 66 57 (tables on place Surain in summer). If you're used to "real" Vietnamese or Chinese, then even this is a poor imitation, but it's by far the best in town if you're in need of a break from French. The owner (who speaks good English) can be persuaded to make dishes "très piquante" if you ask. Make sure you accept the "sake" at the end of the meal for an amusing surprise.
• Crêperie Bretonne chez Hervé, 6, place Surian, 04 93 24 08 20. A good lunch-time venue, with a wide range of galettes and crêpes. Do try the cider, which is served in porcelain bowls. Also serves excellent ice-cream from Tourettes-sur-Loup.

Drink

Sleep

Get out

The Chapelle du Rosaire des Dominicaines de Vence, or the Matisse Chapel, is a 5-10 minute walk from the centre of town, across a bridge and up the Avenue Henri Matisse towards St. Jeannet. This white chapel with its striking blue roof was designed and decorated by Matisse between 1947 and 1951 and is famous for its stained glass windows which spill colours onto the white marble floors. Matisse apparently considered it his masterpiece, "Despite its imperfections..."

Opens: Mo, We, Sa 14:00-17:30, and Tu, Th 10:00-11:30 and 14:00-17:30. Closed November.

External links

Have a look at www.vence.fr for up to date information about what happens in Vence.

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