This walled medieval hill town provided me with tons of photo opportunities beginning at the 13’the century entrance gate through it’s narrow winding streets ending at the cemetery where the artist Marc Chagall is buried.
There are many side streets to wander down with beautiful flowers growing from slender vines out of tiny pots and filling the walls of century old houses.
This village is very much a tourist trap but one that caters to art galleries, food, clothing and especially to it’s own special charm. Even with a good measure of people I found empty side streets that I could wander in peace and quiet and click away on my camera.
Outside St Paul is one of the best art museums to visit – the Fondation Maeght which is nesteled among the pines on a hill overlooking the valley. The architecture with it’s fountains, pools and channeled waterways collaborates with the landscape to provide the perfect showcase for outdoor sculpture – especially that of Joan Miro and Alexander Calder.
The exhibit inside was about the evolution of art from religious iconography through philosophical imagery and finally coming into it’s own as a synthesis of both. For me it provided an enlivening visual account of the field I have put so much of my energy into.
Afterwards I ate lunch at the cafe and lingered awhile in the serene setting of the grounds until it was regrettably time to go. A very enjoyable experience indeed!
