VILLEFRANCHE-SUR-MER

French Riviera Painter’s Trail (Cote d’Azur des Peintres)

Villefranche-sur-Mer is one of the more picturesque towns on the French Riviera, showcasing it’s charm with a traditional village atmosphere mixed with maritime and historical points of interest including Port de la Darse and the Citadelle Saint-Elme.

It is also one of the busiest towns in the high season. The deep water harbour is favoured by cruise ships that disembark passengers for organised tours, it is a ‘must-see’ destination on many coach itineraries, there is a renown French Language school located here, and residents come from nearby Nice, Monaco and Italy to enjoy the beach and change of pace.

It is easy to see why artists flocked to Villefranche-sur-Mer with it’s combination of paintbox-hue houses and terrace restaurants lining the seafront, the rugged Corniche hillsides, a lovely Old Town (vieille ville) dotted with churches and flower boxes cascading from balconies, and a view that stretches from the Cap of Nice across the bay to the peninsula of Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat.

Please enjoy the Painter’s Trail in Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Note: Locations are marked 1-9 and are suitable for able-bodied tourists able to manage walking up some flights of stairs; locations 1-3 and numbers 6-9 only are accessible to families with children in baby buggies/strollers, persons with reduced mobility, or wheelchair-bound tourists and are located on paved surfaces.

1. Rade de Villefranche – 1892 Eugène Boudin – the lecturn is located on promenade des Marinières

(Musée des Beaux-Arts Jules Cheret,Nice)

Eugène Boudin was born in Honfleur, in the Normandy region of France and he was influenced by nature, especially land and seascapes. Throughout his career spanning half a century, he produced over 10,000 paintings, drawings, and pastels.

2. Les filets de Villefranche – 1918 Raymond Tournon - the lecturn is located by the lamp post on the water side

and pedestrian crossing on quai Admiral Courbet, opposite rue de l’Eglise

(private collection)

Raymond Tournon was born in Gaillac, France and was a painter and illustrator. He also produced numerous publicity posters in the Art Nouveau style, which are frequently printed as vintage postcards.

Raymond Touron completed an additional painting (‘La Citadelle’) in Villefranche. The point of view was taken along the coastal walkway below the Citadelle (there is no lecturn for this painting, however it is marked on the accompanying map as number 9)

3. Vue de Villefranche – 1856 Jacques Guiaud - the lecturn is located at the bottom left of the stairs where quai Admiral Courbet joins rue de l’Eglise

(Musée des Beaux-Arts, Carcasonne)

Jacques Guiaud was born in Chambéry, France. He is famous for his historical and landscape works including paintings and lithographs. He lived in Nice, France for some years and completed artworks of nearby Nice and Eze, and his paintings are displayed at the Louvre Museum and Château de Versailles.

9. ‘Villefranche - La Citadelle’ - Raymond Touron

4. Rue Obscure – 1956/57 Jean Cocteau - the lecturn is set into the cobblestones in a small annex on the right-hand side of the stairs heading up rue de l’Eglise. Note: As at Monday 31 March 2014, renovation is being undertaken and the view from the lecturn on rue de l’Eglise down rue Obscure is blocked off. The second photo below was taken from rue de May along rue Obscure.

(Musée d’Art et Histoire de la Citadelle, Villefranche-sur-Mer)

Jean Cocteau was born near Paris, France and was an artist, poet, writer and film maker becoming friends with Pablo Picasso, Coco Chanel and Charlie Chaplin. He visited Villefranche many times, including stays at Hôtel Welcome on the seafront. He has artworks at nearby Menton and Cap d’Ail, and designed a French postage stamp ‘Marianne de Cocteau’.

5. Fontaine à Villefranche – 1927 Armand Ingenbleek - the lecturn is located at Place Félix Poullan (the village square beside Église Saint Michel)

Armand Ingenbleek was born in Alsace, France and was a great influence on Alsacien impressionist painters. His paintings are vibrant with contrasting colours.

6. Chapelle Saint-Pierre – 1957 Jean Cocteau – quai Admiral Courbet near Hôtel Welcome (there is no lecturn but the Chapelle is situated at number 6 on the map)

This small Romanesque church located opposite Place Amélie Pollonais was used by local fishermen to store their fishing nets. The abandoned chapel intrigued Jean Cocteau and he fought with local municipal authorities to restore it (finally winning permission in 1957). He painted the façade and decorated the interior with murals including images of the fishergirls of Villefranche and scenes from the life of Saint Pierre (the patron saint of fishermen).

7. Vue de Villefranche – 1925 Jean Dufy - The point of view is on Place Amélie Pollonais looking towards Hôtel Welcome (there is no lecturn for this painting, however it is marked on the accompanying map as number 7)

Jean Dufy was born in Le Havre, France and he was influenced by Matisse, Picasso and also his brother Raoul Dufy.

8. Villefranche-sur-Mer – year unknown, Maurice Pellerier - The point of view is on the quay located behind Chapelle Saint Pierre looking along quai Admiral Courbet (there is no lecturn for this painting, however it is marked on the accompanying map as number 8)

Maurice Pellerier was born in Paris, France in 1875 and was known for painting marine settings. He has artworks displayed in museums and galleries in Paris and New York.

© Copyright. All inclusions of artists work remains their own as per public domains; all other photos Access Riviera.

This version of the French Riviera Painter’s Trail is compiled by Access Riviera, and may be reprinted for personal use. www.accessriviera.wordpress.com