Travel bucket list idea:
Photo Olivier Ansellem Archives Fondation © Succession Giacometti Fondation Giacometti Paris et ADAGP Paris 2021
Set in a sublime garden amid playful mosaics, fountains and sculptures by Calder, Giacometti, Pol Bury and Tal Coat, the Maeght Foundation is itself a masterpiece.
Designed in 1964 by Josep Lluis Sert, a student of Le Corbusier, this striking building’s luminous white rooms are filled with natural light – the ideal setting for bold, colour-packed art by the likes of Braque, Chagal, Leger, Bonnard and Miro.
Outside, there’s a sculpture garden, with rotating works by world-renowned sculptors such as Jean Arp, Eduardo Chillida, Erik Dietman, Barbara Hepworth and Joan Miro.
Kids will love the garden with its Miro maze and Pol Bury fountain.
The character-filled, medieval village of Saint Paul de Vence is one of the oldest in the South of France, and arguably the loveliest of all the ‘perched’ villages. It’s long been a haven for famous actors, film stars, and artists (including Picasso, Matisse and Chagall).
The Maeght Foundation is one of many top-notch modern and contemporary art museums located here, albeit the biggest and the best.
St-Paul-de-Vence is a half-hour drive outside of both Nice and Antibes. The Foundation is up the hill just before the entrance to St-Paul-de-Vence. If you’re staying in Nice but don’t have a car, you can take the Nice–Vence bus (No.400), which makes two stops in St-Paul – get off at the first one, Village-Fondation Maeght, turn left from the roundabout and walk uphill. By car, just follow the signs as you come into the village.
Guided tours with a local guide are available by prior arrangement, for an additional fee.
After sufficient perusing, have drinks or coffee at the Foundation’s Café, surrounded by art.
The museum is open year-round, seven days a week.
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