PATRIMONY
From chapel to chapel

Many chapels watch over Saint-Paul. Saint-Michel (12th century), located within the cemetery, and Sainte-Claire (16th century), standing opposite the entrance to the village, were meeting places as much as places of worship. Notre-Dame de la Gardette (also called Chapelle Saint-Georges) gets its name from a place that served as a refuge for the inhabitants during the Middle Ages. Saint-Charles and Saint-Claude chapel is more recent (17th century). Chapelle Saint-Roch nestles in the forest in the La Fontmurade neighbourhood, on the road to La Colle. Privileged witnesses of the ins and outs of history, each chapel has its unique characteristics, either humble or elegant or protective. A hundred or so metres of the aqueduct can still be seen from the chapel circuit. Supported by brick and limestone arches, it channelled water from natural springs to mills and washhouses for many a year. Queen Jeanne, Countess of Provence, gave her permission for the community of Saint-Paul to use the water in 1349.

In the footsteps of Marc Chagall

«I thank destiny for leading me to the shores of the Mediterranean.»
Marc Chagall lived in Saint-Paul from 1966 to 1985. During that time, he relentlessly incorporated the village and its ramparts into his paintings. Enveloped in the Mediterranean landscapes he found so fascinating, Marc Chagall painted love: couples in love and multi-coloured bouquets swirling above the village in an eternally serene sky. Public path along Chemin Sainte-Claire. Admire the very same landscapes that the artist would contemplate before capturing them on canvas. Your itinerary is punctuated by reproductions of three of the artist's paintings presented in display cases, a mosaic on a wall in the school playground, and the artist's grave.
Guided tour with a guide from the Tourist Information Office. Plunge into Marc Chagall's Mediterranean and Saint-Paul years, hear stories of his life in the village and learn about his paintings. Guided tours with reservation at the Tourist Information Office.

ANCIENT FOOTSTEPS

Age-old houses that have travelled through History whisper their affection for a village that is proud of its heritage and today harbours 3,000 souls. 350 of these live below the village's shimmering pink rooftops within the village walls. Embracing the task of transmitting its riches to future generations, Saint-Paul protects its past and a traditional way of life. Through concrete actions such as restoring houses and paying great attention to every detail, Saint-Paul's residents breathe life and their energy into their village

 
 
Le jeu de boules

The village rings out with the laughter and voices of "boules" players teasing the "bouchin". All social categories blend together to enjoy this veritable ritual under the amused gaze of passers-by. For "pétanque" is much more than just a game: it is a universal language.