We got up, showered, etc and we went downstairs for a breakfast of fresh home-made brioche and jams, cheese, flan, kaki fruit (persimmon) juice and coffee. Albert drew up an itinerary and a map in our notebook before we set out for the day.We had a few doubts about the hand-drawn map, but it worked out perfectly. We first went to La Fondation Marguerite et Aimé Maeght. The Foundation Maeght is a private European Foundation “to present modern and contemporary art in all its forms.” It was this wonderful gallery created by painters and sculptors and architects to develop the building and gardens as an extension of the hills it sits on. We wandered through the Giacometti courtyard, the Miró labyrinth filled with sculptures and ceramics, mural mosaics by Chaggall and Tal-Coat, a pool and stained glass window by Braque and tons more.
Then we toured the city of Saint-Paul de Vence, this great hilltop founded in the 9th century. It is completely surrounded by a fortress wall and is filled with galleries. We had lunch on a bench while writing postcards to send home .
We saw Marc Chagall’s grave as well. We then took a quick walk through the Galerie Guy Peters, a modern art sculpture gallery.Then we drove to the Chapelle du Saint-Marie du Rosaire (Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary). Also referred to as the Matisse Chapel or the Vence Chapel, it is a small chapel built for Dominican nuns in the town of Vence. It was built and decorated in the late 1940’s by Henri Matisse. We learned that at the age of 77, Matisse spent more than 4 years working on the chapel, its architecture, its stained glass windows, its interior furnishings, its murals, and the vestments of the priests. While the exterior is a very simple design, we found the 3 sets of stained glass windows remarkable. All three sets are comprised of three colors: yellow for the sun, green for vegetation, and blue for the Mediterranean Sea, the Riviera sky and the Madonna. It was a clean and simple place but very moving at the same time.
Finally, we headed into the town of Vence. A modern city, we walked around its central plaza, the Grand Jardin, and did a lot of people watching. David bought a hat and a bottle of wine before we returned back to the B&B. I’m now sitting outside, under this 100-year old olive tree. Tonight we’re going to have dinner at Wayne’s Le Relais des Coches for David’s birthday.
Finally, we headed into the town of Vence. A modern city, we walked around its central plaza, the Grand Jardin, and did a lot of people watching. David bought a hat and a bottle of wine before we returned back to the B&B. I’m now sitting outside, under this 100-year old olive tree. Tonight we’re going to have dinner at Wayne’s Le Relais des Coches for David’s birthday.
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