Books About Vence

This is, I think, the first comprehensive history of Vence. Written by L’abbé E. Tisserand and published in 1860 it is an in-depth look at the origins and history of the town. I found an original copy of this online at a reasonable price so I bought it. It came with what appears to be a review of the book from a newspaper written when the book was first published!

A well-known book from the 1800s that takes a deep look into all the Roman artifacts that can be found in Vence. I found a copy (of a copy) of this in the local library and scanned and digitized it. Actual printed copies are very rare (and expensive).

A short little booklet that traces the history of one particular family from Vence: les Baussy. No photos, images or drawings, just an account of this one family.

An early guidebook to Vence published just before World War I. The author is listed only as J.D. and it says that all profits from the book will go to the Church of Vence. Subjects covered include the church, monuments, Saints, Bishops, Priests, treasures, relics and chapels. No pictures or drawings. You can download this book in PDF format, in French or English.

What a cool find! I picked this up at the weekly Wednesday antique market here in Vence. A little guide book from the 1920s that has everything. Almost 100 pages of information and photos provide a very comprehensive view of Vence 100 years ago.

Records from 1926 and 1927 of a Vence organization called “Maintenace Ligurienne,” formed in 1924 and devoted to studying and preserving the language, traditions and origins of Provence.

A big book devoted to the “monuments” of Vence. The fountains, the ramparts, the portes, the Cathedral, the castles, the places, the chapels and much, much more. Lots of history, maps, illustrations and photos. Very thorough and comprehensive. A limited edition of which I have #00319.

A wonderful, thorough guidebook to Vence with lots and lots of information. Lots of black and white photos and some maps as well. Published by the Syndicate d’Initiative de Vence (the old Tourist Office). You can download a copy of this book in either the original French or an English translation I have created.

The most comprehensive history of Vence written in English. It’s usually fairly easy to find online. Written in the 1920s it’s a fascinating look into Vence’s past, going all the way back to pre-history. You can also download a copy from this website.

A small booklet with information about the soils of the Vence region and advice for farmers. Published by the city of Vence with an introduction by the Deputy Mayor at the time, Emile Hugues.

A small black and white paperback booklet dedicated to the Chapelle du Rosaire in Vence designed by Henri Matisse. Lots of information and photographs. This looks to have been published right around the time the chapel was consecrated in 1951.

A very interesting book with a 15 page introduction about Vence and then lots of photographs from the early 1950s. It’s a limited edition (I have #6, though it’s unclear what the total was) printed on special paper. My copy is signed by the author who wrote the introduction.

I suspect this little book dates from the early 1950s because it lists the Chapelle du Rosaire (which was finished in 1951). A wonderful little guide to Vence with sites, hikes, hotels, restaurants, and more.

This booklet (with both French and English sections) recounts a bit of the history of Vence, including stories about Saint Veran, Charlemagne, Queen Jeanne and Bishop Godeau. It’s pretty short, but includes a cool fold-out map of the town.

A book dedicated to an in-depth history of the Catholic religion in Vence when it was a bishopric (a district under a bishop’s control). Covering the periods from 374 to the late 1700s.

A program for the First International Festival of Pêtanque held in Vence in 1959. Information about the rules, schedules of play, prizes and more for the festival. You can also download a copy from this website.

A nice book with stories, histories, legends, festivals, landmarks and more about Vence and Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Some interesting black and white photographs from the 1960s

A book of legends, stories, myths and more from in and around Vence. Several nice watercolor paintings included. A limited, numbered edition of which this is #1148.

This is a reprint of the same booklet from 1954 (they changed the title slightly). It has the exact same content except it does not contain the little fold-out map of Vence. The printing is much bigger, so it’s over twice the number of pages as the earlier version.

An interesting little book about half of which is dedicated to the history of Vence and half to the Chapelle du Rosaire (the Matisse Chapel). Lots of cool black and white photographs from the 60s and 70s.

Subtitled Fragments d’une Passion Selon le Calvaire de Vence, the content of this book is identical to the other one with that same title. Numbered edition, I have #1069. Though it does not say so anywhere, it’s possible that this version is a reprint of the original version. Printed on heavy glossy paper with a dust jacket.

This book covers the Chapelles du Calvaire, with an emphasis on the polychrome wooden statues that were originally part of it. Lots of photos. An original edition of this book so noted on one of the inner pages where it says, “This volume of the original edition bears the number 136.” It’s printed on heavy, textured paper with a slightly oversized dust jacket that features only a photo of one of the statues (no title). The content is identical to the other book listed here as Pour la Restauration du Calvaire de Vence.

A book dedicated exclusively to the 15 century carved wooden stalls found in the Vence Cathedral. Created by Jacques Bellot they showcase the fine woodworking that existed in Provence during this time. Lots of detailed black and white photos.

A long and very thorough account of the history of Vence up to the French Revolution. No photos, just lots and lots of text and information.

A deep dive into how the small town of Vence, over a thousand kilometers from Paris, dealt with the French Revolution. The book tells the story, day by day, of how the new political and social principles affected Vence. Based on archives from the city.

A nice little book outlining 40 different hikes in and around Vence. The hikes are broken down into six categories: leaving from Vence, Tourrettes-sur-Loup, Saint-Jeannet, the Côte d’Azur, the Col de Vence and Coursegoules.

An interesting little booklet put together by the Office du Tourisme. Some basic information about Vence with a very detailed listing of hotels, restaurants and commerces. Several fold out maps are included. There’s no date anywhere, but I suspect it is from the 70s or 80s.

A modern history of Vence and the surrounding villages, written by someone who lives in the area, devoted mostly to the last 200 years. Some black and white photos and lots of details and statistics.

A book by noted Vence historian Georges Castellan covering the archives of Vence, including communal, religious and personal. A preface by the then mayor, Bernard Demichelis. #1 in a series by the Association For the Defense and Promotion of Vence Heritage.

A guide to the Cathedral with a full history and a detailed information for a walk-through visit. Some nice black and white photographs and a floor plan round out this this little booklet. Created for the 16th centenary celebrations of Christians in Vence.

A book published by the Association for the Defense of the Promotion of Vence Heritage which lists, in detail, the names of all the “places” in Vence. Neighborhoods, streets, rivers, etc. #2 in a series by this association.

A book published by the Association for the Defense of the Promotion of Vence Heritage detailing the history of Vence as a Roman town. Includes information, and a few photos, on all the remaining Roman artifacts in Vence. #3 in a series by this association.

A small guidebook to Vence devoted mostly to the old town. Information on 23 specific sites to see. It also includes info on 10 other sites to see (mostly chapels) in and around Vence. A little bit of history, a nice map and some photos.

This is a reprint of what I believe to be the first comprehensive history of Vence, first published in 1860. There are no photos and this book appears to simply reproduce the original page by page with clean images. The type has not been reset for a modern version. Tisserand wrote several other Vence related books including “Un Touriste à Vence.”

An in-depth study of Vence during the middle ages by Alain Venturini. The book consists of various documents from the middle ages with commentary and explanations by the author. Published by the Association Pour la Defense et la Promotion du Patrimoine Vençois, this is Number 4 in a series.

A short, but thorough, examination of the Cathedral in Vence (the smallest Cathedral in France). Lots of useful information and color photographs. You can read my article about this cathedral here on the website.

The most in-depth, complete, comprehensive history of Vence from pre-history times to the 1990s. Six authors (overseen by Georges Castellan) tackle certain periods in the history of the city. Tons of research went into writing this book and it is surely the definitive history book on the town.

An updated version of a little book originally published in 1980 outlining 40 different hikes in and around Vence. The hikes are broken down into six categories: leaving from Vence, Tourrettes-sur-Loup, Saint-Jeannet, the Côte d’Azur, the Col de Vence and Coursegoules.

A large, coffee table like paperback book celebrating different aspects of fine art in Vence. Includes information about Chapelle du Rosaire, artists who have spent time in Vence and more. Exactly the same as the next entry, but the front and back covers are reversed.

A large, coffee table like paperback book celebrating different aspects of fine art in Vence. Includes information about Chapelle du Rosaire, artists who have spent time in Vence and more. Exactly the same as the previous entry, but the front and back covers are reversed.

Another guide book to Vence with quite a bit of information about the town, the history, old town, the Cathedral and the chapels. Also includes info about nearby perched villages, regional products, nearby hikes and more. It’s one of the few guidebooks that is also in English.

An excellent guide to the Chapelle du Rosaire in Vence, the chapel designed and decorated by Henri Matisse. Lots of photos and some of Matisse’s drawings as well. The introduction is by Matisse. Read more about the chapel on this website.

An in-depth study of Vence for five years at the turn of the 19th century by noted Vence historian Georges Castellan. Derived from research through the Vence archives. Published by the Association Pour la Defense et la Promotion du Patrimoine Vençois, this is Number 5 in a series.

A large coffee table style paperback book chronicling life in Vence from 1930 to 1975. Tons of information and lots of black and white photos.

A large coffee table style paperback book chronicling life in Vence from 1900 to 1939. Lots of information about various aspects of life in Vence, lots of black and white photographs, lots of vintage postcard reproductions.

A small booklet released by the City of Vence and the Tourist Office containing eleven short walks in and around the Vence area. Eight are related to the Vence chapels, four are related to water and fountains and the last one is a circuit of trees that grow in the area.

A fairly recent in-depth look at Vence covering everything from the Cathedral to the old town to the baous to the Matisse Chapel and more. Information about famous writers and painters who have lived in Vence and some color photos.

A “coffee table” book to accompany an art exhibit at the Fondation Emile Hugues (now the Vence Museum) in 2003 by Jean Le Gac called “Vence, bruits de persiennes.” Lots of color photographs and explanations.

A small booklet dedicated to the statues of the Calvaire chapels, which now reside in the Vence Cathedral. There’s a short introduction and history, but most of the pages are devoted to photographs of the statues.

A book dedicated to the six years that Henri Matisse spent living in Vence at his home, Villa Rêve. Lots of information about his life and work during this years as well as tons of black and white and color photos of his home and his art.

An oversized “coffee table” book divided into two parts. The first is a reissue of a book from 1855 called “A Tourist In Vence.” In the second part is a visual journey through Vence in the early 1900s by way of old postcards.

A book of “memories” divided into 9 chapters such as “The Heritage of the City,” “The Queens ad Festivals,” “Sports,” “Econonmy,” “The Old Town” and more. Lots and lots of black and white photos with a small description of each one.

A very nice book dedicated to one of the most important chapels in Vence. Lots of information about the history and the restoration which took place in 1992. Nice color photographs.

A second volume to the Mémorie en Images series. This one is divided into 5 chapters: “Living Environment and Families,” “The Difficult Years,” “Active Life,” “Young People Through the Ages” and “Festivals & Leisure Activities.” Lots and lots of black and white photos with a small description for each one.

A book detailing an art exhibit from 2012. François Mauplot took photos of Vence residents, all of them in profile, and displayed them on the walls of Place Godeau. Hundreds and hundreds of photographs with additional information about the installation.

Every year Vence holds a big music festival called les Nuits du Sud (Nights of the South). Performers come from around the world and it lasts for multiple weekends throughout July and August. In 2013 a book was put together with information about all the artists performing and paintings from local artists. A limited edition of 1000 copies.

An unusual book that tackles the long history of France from the perspective of a young child born in 1362 who is magically transported to modern day Vence. One way to make history more interesting to some readers.

Every year Vence holds a big music festival called les Nuits du Sud (Nights of the South). Performers come from around the world and it lasts for multiple weekends throughout July and August. In 2014 a book was put together with information about all the artists performing and paintings from local artists.

A recent publication that takes a very in-depth look at the two Roman columns that can be seen in Vence. An exhaustive account of everything we know (and think we know) about them. It’s very hard to find, being self-published (as near as I can tell). I found a copy at the local library and scanned it.

A wonderful book about Henri Matisse and the chapel he designed in Vence. Known as the “Chapelle de Vence,” “The Matisse Chapel” or the “Chapelle du Rosaire,” this chapel is one of the biggest tourist destinations in Vence. Sister Jacques-Marie was a huge inspiration for the chapel. She worked as a nurse for Matisse and later he used her as a subject for various drawings and paintings. It was she who encouraged him to design the chapel. This is the story from her perspective.

A curious book that mixes history and fantasy about the fountains found in the old town of Vence with the famous painters Matisse and Chagall. A modern day fairytale that is quite unique.

A beautiful souvenir book dedicated to the collection of Matisse materials owned by the city of Vence. Lots of nice photos and information as well as a comprehensive bibliography.

A tourist guide to Vence published by the Office de Tourisme. In English and French it provides a lot of basic information about the town including places to eat and stay.

A guide for businesses who would like to partner with the Vence Office de Tourisme. Includes information about their Facebook and Twitter accounts, newsletters, website and publications.

A book about the history of the Château Saint-Martin & Spa. Today a luxury hotel and spa but its origins go back to 350 when it was a fortified Roman outpost. Later it became a castle for the Knights Templar. Some interesting history, some nice photos and some reproductions of old Vence postcards from the early 1900s.

Lots and lots of information about things we can all do to become more ecologically aware and help save the planet. Information on water, air, housing, transportation, gardening and more.

A book about the treasure of the Templars which offers some clues to its relationship with Vence.

Fantastic little book all about the flora and fauna of Vence and the surrounding areas. Lots of gorgeous color photos and information about all kinds of animals and plants. I think these were given away free at some point.

A guide to the many different associations based in Vence, grouped by categories such as “Economy,” “Nature,” “Culture,” “Education,” “Sports” and more. It’s amazing how much Vence has to offer its inhabitants.

Small booklet from the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Matisse Chapel (Chapelle du Rosarie) in Vence. Information about the chapel and various exhibits and events.

The full title of this little book, “Vence – Citizen’s Guide: Living Well Together in Vence,” tells you everything you need to know. A guidebook to being a responsible citizen, getting along with your neighbors, etc. It deals with everything from noise pollution to respecting the environment to taking care of your pets.

This book takes a deep and thorough look into the 15th century wooden stalls located in the Vence cathedral. Created between 1455 and 1460 by Jacotin Bellot, a master woodworked in Grasse, these stalls are listed as a national monument. Gothic in style, heavily influenced and inspired by the Renaissance, they showcase the fine woodworking that existed in Provence during this time. The book contains years of research and beautiful photographs.