Alpes maritime villages in the Cote d Azur
A journey around the pretty villages of the Gorges du Loup
We have had a love affair with the Cote d’ Azur for many years and would love to share some of the experiences of our ‘Happy Valley’ around the Rives du Loup or River Loup. The river has its source in the pre-Alps of Grasse and runs down the valleys to the sea at Villeneuve Loubet, giving its name to many pretty villages en-route
La Colle Sur Loup
While a very attractive place to visit La Colle is also thriving local community with fantastic local facilities, excellent local shops, restaurants and the Polygon Riviera Open Air Shopping Promenade nearby with a cinema, casino, fashion shops, restaurants and spectacular events throughout the year – something for everyone,
The beautiful Gorges du Loup
Snuggling in a beautiful natural environment of oaks, olive trees and pines, lemon trees and perfume flowers, La Colle sur Loup is a very pleasant health and tourist resort just a short drive from Nice Cote d’ Azur airport and half way between Nice and Antibes. It is also and less than an hour from the ski resorts of Greolieres and Andon.
The Pretty Village of La Colle sur Loup
La Colle sur Loup has a very long history with a community dating back to the 16th century and beyond.
From its past there remains a castle still in good condition as well as a 12th century priory now converted into a restaurant (L’Abbaye), which still has a fortified gateway, corner towers, cloisters and a listed Romanesque chapel.
Visit the historic village centre with its lively shopping streets and old narrow alleyways where you can admire shady little squares, fountains and wonderful carved doors. There are many seasonal activities in the village to include the Feast of Saint-Eloi (6th July: horse procession and blessing). Rose Festival with petal battle (May). jazz nights, street markets and many more events throughout the year
Leisure Activities
For Leisure activities there is are magnificent sports facilities, amusement park for children, heated swimming pool and tennis courts. For more outdoor activities there is horse-riding (riding club, pony-club). hiking and all the activities along the banks of the River Loup.
As for the natural side of things, the river “Loup” is one of La Colle sur Loup’s main attractions.
Its banks are true oases of coolness, very popular during the summer time with a whole range of leisure activities to include two municipal parks, kayaking, rock climbing, lots of walking trails, playgrounds and even a pony club!
We have had a holiday home in La Colle for over thirty years and love the area and there is a wide range of accommodation to suit all tastes from magnificent hotels, family villas with pools to apartments that can be found on VBRO, Expedia and many other holiday booking platforms. The weather can still be very nice out of season where there are many attractive accommodation offers available.
having settle into our holiday accommodation is is time to do a little exploring and this starts with the beautiful village of St Paul du Vence
St Paul du Vence
Now that we have settled in at La Colle it is time to start our journey around the villages and our first port of call is always St Paul du Vence. A coffee or lunch at Cafe de Place is a good place to start with dinner at the famous Colomb d’ Or
The old town of Saint-Paul de Vence is one of may of the Perch Towns in the area built on top of a small hills and is surrounded by a high walls. It is worth seeing this artistic mecca on the French Riviera, wandering around the quaint cobbled streets, seeing all the artist studios, restaurants and shops.
Saint-Paul de Vence (also called simply, Saint Paul) lies near Nice, between Cagnes-sur-Mer and Vence. St-Paul is a medieval village, and today it is a real mecca for artists, who have been coming here since 1920. Among others, Picasso, Dufy, Matisse, and Marc Chagall have stayed here and created their works. Chagall lived in St-Paul for 19 years and is buried in the local cemetery (on the right after entering the cemetery).
The village has also hosted world cinema stars, including Greta Garbo, Sophia Loren, and Catherine Deneuve. The artists usually spent the night in a hotel and restaurant called the La Colombe d’Or – Saint-Paul de Vence which is located in front of the walls of the old town. Apparently, the most famous of them paid for their stay in kind, leaving their works for the owner.
Definitely worth visiting Colombe D’Or if only to experience lunch or dinner in the ‘Secret Garden’ and see the many works of art by famous artists in the dining rooms. This is often the destination of many celebrities and it is highly recommended to book well in advance.
Some of the buildings of historic St-Paul even date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. The city walls were built in 1538 and in the second half of the 19th century, the town’s inhabitants had to buy these walls to protect them from destruction.
Saint-Paul de Vence is famous for its countless tourist attractions an it is worth walking the main street of the village – rue Grande – from the entrance at the north gate (Porte de Vence) to the end of the village.
Along the way, you will pass charming little galleries, shops, restaurants, and art studios and one of the most photographed attraction is the impressive fountain in the Place de la Grande Fontaine. During the Middle Ages it was the most important place in the old town.
Fondation Maeght
Near the old town of Saint-Paul is another attraction recommended by all the guides. This place is purportedly a treat for art lovers – Fondation Maeght – a private museum with collections of European modern and contemporary art. If you are interested, I refer you to the site fondation-maeght.com. This is supposedly one of the most famous establishments of this type in the world – so maybe it’s worth seeing.
After enjoying the delights of St Paul the next destinations is the historic town of Vence
Vence
Vence is only a few minute drive from St Paul and we start the visit in the Place Maréchal Juin, the main square in the town. There is ample parking here, many shops and restaurants and across the quare is the entrance towards the historic old town.
The history of Vence goes back thousands of years and is one of the oldest towns along the Côte d’Azur and all of France. For over 400 years it was a Roman town, known at the time as Vintium and lay on a famous Roman road called’ the Via Julia’ which connected the coastal towns along the Mediterranean Sea with those in the hills and mountains to the north.
Evidence of the Roman city can be seen throughout the town, from a beautiful carved marble sarcophagus in the Cathedral to two tall Roman granite columns that were a gift from the people of Marseille to the city of Vence in the 3rd century. Throughout the old town you’ll also find large pieces of stone engraved with Latin signifying the visit of an important Roman dignitary or celebrating a special occurrence. Since the fall of the Roman Empire the town has been built, destroyed and rebuilt over and over through the centuries.
A great centre for exploring the Cote d Azur and Pre Alps area.
Vence is easy to reach from anywhere along the Côte d’Azur and is just a short drive off the A8 motorway and Nice Cote d Azur Airport. There is ample parking in the town and very good bus connections from Nice, Cagnes sur Mer and all the villages around to Grasse all the villages There are many hotels in and around the town, including the fabulous Château Saint-Martin, a spa and luxury hotel built in the ruins of an old Templar castle.
The old walled town is the most interesting part for visitors and still entered through the original five gateways into the heart of Place du Peyra. here you will discover a fascinating and the historical town centre to Vence. Enter the town centre through the Porte du Peyra where you will first see the near ancient fountain and many small restaurants and shops.
Place du Peyra was once the square where public executions took place, but is now a peaceful square with with a beautiful fountain that is often lit up in the evening and a very popular photo spot. Now inside the old town you will find many narrow streets that wind and twist their way through a variety of small beautiful squares with restaurants, squares, shops and boutiques that all lead through to the main square, Place Clemenceau. Many of the most important historic monuments are in and around Place Clemenceau to includethe Cathedral of the Nativity of Saint Mary in Vence, that dates originally from the 4th century and the Town Hall. in the centre of the square is the market square, where there is a market every Tuesday, then many more restaurants to include the Clemenceau – famous for its pizzas.
There are many restaurants to suit all taste in Vence and ample car parking both in the centre and around the town. Parking is easy at Parking Marie Antoinette (Rue Marie-Antionette) or at Parking du Grand Jardin (Place du Grand Jardin). At Place du Grand Jardin you’ll find the Tourist Office. I’m sure they can give you all the info you’ll need.
There are lots of restaurants around Place du Jardin and if you are looking for good food and a busy atmosphere head for Neo Sud but for For the real feel of Provence visit the old town into Place du Peyra. Here you will find many small restaurants starting with Le Peyra, Le Pigeonnair and many others – a great place to people watch and be entertained by many of the surprisingly good buskers that are often there.
Follow the little narrow streets out of the Place du Peyra where there are many more small bistros and Pizza Restaurants all around. The famous Clemenceau pizza restaurant is opposite the cathedral and many more little gems around to include Le Table de Domi.
For a real hidden gem you need to go back to the Place du Jardin and look for Restaurant La Farigoule which is tucked away just off the main square – lovely both inside but particularly outside in the evening.
There is more that enough choice in Vence for everyone and a lovely place to spend a holiday
Chateau St Matin and Col de Vence
