Saint-Paul-de-Vence and the Fondation Maeght

Back in 1926, Paul Roux began accepting paintings as payment at his family inn, a quiet trade that grew into La Colombe d’Or’s legendary collection spanning Matisse to Chagall. Just 12 km from Antibes along the D35, Saint-Paul-de-Vence reveals its 16th‑century ramparts, measured pétanque games on the square, and discreet galleries still showing studio studies. At the Fondation Maeght, opened in 1964 by Aimé and Marguerite Maeght, you wander past Miró mosaics, Braque’s paving and Giacometti’s attenuated figures in the garden. A short detour via Biot, 7 km earlier, uncovers the story of local bubble glass developed in the 1950s.

Your driver picks you up at your Antibes hotel in a Mercedes E‑Class or V‑Class and keeps the day fluid while you focus on visits and tastings. First stop: Biot for a glassmaking workshop, then on to Saint‑Paul‑de‑Vence, where you’re dropped near the gates and free to linger or lunch. At the Fondation Maeght, pre‑booked tickets and flexible timing mean no queuing, no rush. On the Côte d’Azur, a private chauffeur lets you stretch a gallery stop, shift plans with the weather, and be on the move the moment you’re ready.