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High Quality, Charming Villa
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A Provencal town
Vence is a small and pleasant town located just inland from the Cote d’Azur. It has kept its traditional Provencal atmosphere, while having the Riviera hotspots of Monaco, Nice, Monte-Carlo and Antibes just a short drive away. Along with nearby St-Paul-de-Vence, there’s more contemporary art here than anywhere else in France.
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Matisse’ refuge
In 1943, Matisse arrived in the town to escape the bombing campaign along the coast, yet was soon struck down by a mystery illness. The town’s Dominican Sisters brought him back to health and, as a way of saying thank you, he gave the community the Chapelle du Rosaire. He designed every last detail from the exterior walls to the candlesticks and even the priest’s garments.
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The historic centre
The old town has been beautifully preserved. A large number of medieval buildings form a tight circle around the central square. There are five gateways to get in, each with a unique design. The port d’Orient is the largest one and was designed so that the local bishop, Monseigneur Pisani de la Gaude could arrive at his Episcopal palace without having to leave his carriage.
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"Le doux repaire"
Vence has had a long history of artistic talent. The town is full of galleries showcasing the best of its many renowned residents’ artwork. One such individual is Pierre Vidal who described the town as ‘the sweet nest’. Another infamous resident was the writer, doctor and seer, Nostradamus, who also had kind words to bestow upon the town, “Garden of Vence, marvel of Provence”.
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Follow your nose
Vence has always been a market town. If you want to try some of the local produce then the best place to go is Rue du Marche. You shouldn’t have any trouble finding it if you follow the scents coming from the fish, flower, honey, bakeries, fruit and vegetable stalls.
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There’s something in the water
There are a number of fountains in the town dispersing some of the healthiest water you’ll ever drink. The plaque above them lists the vast number of minerals that flow with it down from its source above Vence. Sometimes lines of people form to fill up their large bottles before taking them home
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How to get there
British Airways, EasyJet, British Midland, Flybe and Jet2 all offer direct flights to Nice from the UK. You can also reach Nice by train thanks to RailEurope. The TGV, meanwhile, will take you to Aix-en-Provence.
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What are property prices like?
Property prices do get slightly cheaper as you head inland, however, Vence is still a highly desirable town and its property is reasonably expensive. There is an active rental market. At the time of writing we have a 5 bedroom Provencal villa with a swimming pool for €840,000.
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HOTELS IN VENCE
* online booking & great prices
* up-to-the-minute availability
* unbiased hotel reviews
* full confirmation with directions |
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AGENTS WITH PROPERTY IN THIS AREA |
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4/5
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