LOCATION

324 Boulevard du Marechal de Lattre

Vence 06140, France

WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO DO

VILLAGES AND TOWNS

VENCE

The nearest town, very much a working medieval walled town, is a lovely destination for lunch, shopping, and soaking up the local French atmosphere.  About a 3-minute drive or 10 min walk.  You can pick up your groceries at Leclerc - for organic -Biocoop Planète Paradis opposite Place Chagall or get delicious specialist foods at the butchers and artisanal shops in the medieval quarter.  

Head for the old town through one of the medieval gates - Port du Peyra - which sits adjacent to the central square - Place du Grand Jardin - for lovely little shops, and fantastic restaurants.  Visit the Chapelle du Rosaire designed by Henri Matisse located at 466, Avenue Henri Matisse. Have lunch in the old town, coffee at Henry’s Bar or a light snack in the square.  

ST PAUL DE VENCE

For art, perched medieval old town with views, fine food, 5-star hotels a lovely destination for lunch, a wander or a beer on the square. For those who like to walk, there are some great walks between St Paul de Vence and Vence.  You can walk here from the villa, have lunch walk back or take the bus back.

FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.SAINT-PAULDEVENCE.COM

TOURETTES SUR LOUP

For artisan medieval villages, eateries and views of the Mediterranean. 

FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://TOURRETTESSURLOUP.COM

ST. JEANNET

For picturesque medieval village perched under the towering rock face of the Baou de St. Jeannet overlooking panoramic views of the coastal plain. Centre of rock climbing, hiking and paragliding.

FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.PROVENCEWEB.FR/E/ALPMARIT/STJEANET/STJEANET.HTM

GOURDON

For a spectacularly perched ancient village, listed as one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France.

FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.PROVENCEWEB.FR/E/ALPMARIT/GOURDON/GOURDON.HTM

GRASSE

The perfume capital of the world

FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.FRANCE-VOYAGE.COM/CITIES-TOWNS/GRASSE-23147/TOURIST-OFFICE-GRASSE-6049.HTM

VILLENEUVE LOUBET

For medieval old town, adventure parks, river and seaside.

FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.VILLENEUVE-TOURISME.COM/ENGLISH.HTML

For a day of sporting fun visit the Canyon Forest.

FOR MORE INFO: HTTP://WWW.CANYONFOREST.COM/

VALBONNE

For medieval charm, the central square, hotels and small eateries.

FOR MORE INFO: HTTP://WWW.PROVENCEWEB.FR/E/ALPMARIT/VALBONNE/VALBONNE.HTM

BIOT

For ceramics and glass.

FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.BIOT.FR

ANTIBES

Busy old port popular with the yachting set, for museums, covered markets, antiquity, top class hotels and eateries. 

FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.ANTIBESJUANLESPINS.COM/EN

CANNES

For International Film Festival, beaches, grand hotels, classy shopping, Rue d'Antibes, Le Croisette seaside walk, Forville covered market.

FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://WWW.CANNES-DESTINATION.COM

NICE

For shopping, museums, Roman ruins, beaches, eating out, nightlife, and the famous Promenade des Anglais.

FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://EN.NICETOURISME.COM/WHAT-TO-DO

EZE

For a fortified medieval village perched high overlooking the Mediterranean.

FOR MORE INFO: HTTP://WWW.EZE-TOURISME.COM/EN/

MARKETS

The great market to visit is just on the other side of the Italian border at Ventimiglia.  It is on a Friday.  Go early, leave at 8 am and either drive (it takes about 40 minutes or 1 hour depending on the traffic) or take the train. A train is also a good option if you get dropped at the station at Cagnes Sur Mer and then collected afterwards.  The journey goes along the coast and is quite pretty and it takes just over an hour.  You can check schedules on the following website – and buy tickets if you want to.

FOR MORE INFO: HTTP://WWW.RAILEUROPE.CO.UK/

For other excellent but smaller markets check the list below. Valbonne and the Nice markets are very good.

FOR MORE INFO: HTTP://WWW.MARKETSINFRANCE.COM/FRENCH-MARKET-DAY/06-MARKET-DAY-ALPES-MARITIMES.PHP

REGIONAL ATTRACTIONS

Olive tasting, wine tours, perfumeries and great restaurants.

FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://COTEDAZURFRANCE.FR/EN/

THE NATURAL WORLD

If you are interested in local flora and fauna and what maybe living around you in the natural world checkout the latest biodiversity audit published in December 2019 by the Mayor of Vence.

FOR MORE INFO: HTTPS://VENCE.FR/WP-CONTENT/UPLOADS/2020/01/LIVRE-ABC-VENCE-BD.PDF

DINING AND RESTAURANTS

MICHELIN STARRED RESTAURANT:

FOR MORE INFO:

HTTPS://GUIDE.MICHELIN.COM/EN/FR/PROVENCE-ALPES-COTE-DAZUR/RESTAURANTS

FOR MORE INFO:

HTTP://WWW.VIAMICHELIN.CO.UK/WEB/RESTAURANTS/RESTAURANTS-VENCE

For less formal dining, we recommend that you just go with what fancies you.  There are great restaurants everywhere.  The Brasseries along the waterfront in Nice all have fabulous meals as do the little restaurants in the old town of Vence.