Diversion. Distraction. Fantasy. Change of fashion, food, love, and landscape. We need them as the air we breathe. ~Bruce Chatwin
During our stay at the campsite in Villeneuve-Loubet, we took a day trip, on the motorcycle, to a medieval village called Saint Paul de Vence. This is a place where the journey and the destination are both equally important and magical.
The Journey
The village itself was about 30 minutes from the campsite and was on a hill top with narrow roads and lots of sharp turns. The journey was thrilling yet slightly frightening on a motorcycle. I also had a goPro in one hand trying to record the beauty, so my other hand was holding on for dear life. However, Matt did a great job navigating the winding roads and didn't even get distracted when the sea and the village peaked out in the distance. Once we got up to the top of the hill, we could see the entrance and parked right outside the walls of the village. (parking inside is possible with a compact vehicle or motorcycle)
Of note: you can get to the village with the local bus which drops you off right by the entrance.
The Destination
Saint Paul de Vence is a fortified medieval village that sits on the top of the hillside in Southern France and has breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea all around it. The village was fortified in the 1400s and the walls are still very much intact. In fact, after climbing a few stairs, we were able to walk along the inside perimeter of the wall surrounding the village. At this level, we had an amazing view of the Mediterranean Sea on one side of the wall and on the other end, we were overlooking a beautiful cemetery. Although not usually a go-to spot for tourists, the cemetery is a beautiful landmark and burial place for a famous artist, Marc Chagal, who spent much of his life in the village. Parts of the walkways were cobble stones, rocks and sometimes just concrete. We were guided along the whimsical narrow pathways and hidden alleyways. I couldn't help help but feel like we were walking through a fairytale place surrounded by boutiques, art shops, fountains and statues. The village also had a charming array of restaurants, cafes and ice cream shops to enjoy throughout the day.
Reflection
Although the village itself is amazing and beautiful, what I enjoyed most about the trip is that it was unplanned. Most of our adventures were filled with delays and places being harder to find or not as we had hoped or expected. However, it felt like this village kind-of found us (although we were trying to find it) and was a pleasant surprise peaking out from the trees as we got to the hilltop.
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