Saint-Paul-de-Vence (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ pɔl vɑ̃s], literally Saint-Paul of Vence; Occitan: Sant Pau de Vença; Italian: San Paolo di Venza) is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. One of the oldest medieval towns on the French Riviera, Saint-Paul-de-Vence is well known for its modern and contemporary art museums and galleries such as the Fondation Maeght,[3] and for the 17th-century Saint Charles-Saint Claude chapel, which in 2012–2013 was decorated with murals by French artist Paul Conte.[4][5]

Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Sant Pau (Occitan)
Panorama of Saint-Paul-de-Vence from the path of St. Clare in August 2012
Panorama of Saint-Paul-de-Vence from the path of St. Clare in August 2012
Coat of arms of Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Location of Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Map
Saint-Paul-de-Vence is located in France
Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Saint-Paul-de-Vence is located in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Coordinates: 43°41′53″N 7°07′19″E / 43.698°N 7.122°E / 43.698; 7.122
CountryFrance
RegionProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
DepartmentAlpes-Maritimes
ArrondissementGrasse
CantonVilleneuve-Loubet
IntercommunalityCA Sophia Antipolis
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Jean-Pierre Camilla[1]
Area
1
7.26 km2 (2.80 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
3,183
 • Density440/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
06128 /06570
Elevation39–355 m (128–1,165 ft)
(avg. 180 m or 590 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Until 2011, the commune was officially called Saint-Paul.[6]

Saint Charles-Saint Claude chapel, built in the 17th century.
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 1,570—    
1975 1,917+2.89%
1982 2,542+4.11%
1990 2,903+1.67%
1999 2,847−0.22%
2007 3,374+2.15%
2012 3,548+1.01%
2017 3,477−0.40%
2018 3,324−4.40%
Source: INSEE[7]

Notable people

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Saint-Paul-de-Vence has long been a haven of the famous, mostly due to the La Colombe d'Or hotel,[8] whose former guests include Jean-Paul Sartre and Pablo Picasso.[9] During the 1960s, the village was frequented by French actors Yves Montand, Simone Signoret and Lino Ventura, and poet Jacques Prévert.[10]

Saint-Paul is also well known for the artists who have lived there, such as Jacques Raverat, Gwen Raverat and Marc Chagall and more recently the couple Bernard-Henri Lévy and Arielle Dombasle.[11] Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman has a home there. American writer James Baldwin lived in Saint-Paul-de-Vence for 17 years until his death in 1987.[12][13] British actor Donald Pleasence lived there until his death in 1995.[14]

Xanthi FC player Vincenzo Rennella was born in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.[15] Actress and artist Rebecca Dayan was raised in a hotel there.[16]

American comic actors Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner were married in Saint-Paul-de-Vence by its mayor on 18 September 1984.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Lonely Planet; Emilie Filou; Alexis Averbuck; John A Vlahides (1 December 2012). Lonely Planet Provence & the Cote d'Azur. Lonely Planet. pp. 560–. ISBN 978-1-74321-376-6.
  4. ^ "Chapelle Saint Charles-Saint Claude". saint-pauldevence.com/. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Saint Paul de Vence: chapelle Saint-Charles et Saint-Claude". paulconte.fr/. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  6. ^ Décret n° 2011-311 22 March 2011 (in French)
  7. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  8. ^ La Colombe d'Or home page
  9. ^ Raphael, Amy (March 1999). Esquire.[full citation needed]
  10. ^ History, La Colombe d'Or.
  11. ^ Buck, Joan Juliet (January 2003). "France's Prophet Provocateur". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  12. ^ Libbey, Peter (27 November 2017). "James Baldwin's Former Home in France Is Set to Be Developed". New York Times. nytimes.com. Retrieved 2017-12-05.
  13. ^ Kun, Josh (1999). "Life According to the Beat: James Baldwin, Bessie Smith and the Perilous Sound of Love", in Dwight A. McBride (ed.), James Baldwin Now. New York: New York University Press. ISBN 0814756182. pp. 307–328; here: p. 325.
  14. ^ Gussow, Mel (3 February 1995). "Donald Pleasence, Virtuoso Actor, Dies at 75". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 January 2020. Donald Pleasence, the intense, virtuosic actor who was acclaimed in London and on Broadway for his performance in the title role of Harold Pinter's play "The Caretaker," died yesterday at his home in St. Paul de Vence in the south of France. He was 75 and also had a home in London. ...
  15. ^ "Miami FC Signs Former la Liga Forward Vincenzo Rennella".
  16. ^ Lawrence, Vanessa. "Actress Rebecca Dayan Loves David Bowie And Velvet Slippers, But Is Not Here for Pre-Ripped Jeans". W Magazine. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
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