Vence or Tourettes-sur-loop
 

Which of these places would be most suitable for a week's stay to explore the area?

They are so close to each other it will not make much difference. Tourettes has alot of artisan shops. But I love St. Paul, but everyone likes one over the other, there's no one or better choice.

Tourettes is a charming small village; Vence is a small town, which means more restaurants and places to shop. Either would be nice.

Vence would offer more options for restos and walking around in the evening. Tourettes-sur-Loup is very close to Vence so you can go there for afternoon shopping or dinner.

In Tourrettes-sur-Loup you would be in violet and olive-oil country; the area is nicely shaded and woody, making it wonderful in the hot summer months.

Tourettes has great charm. It's smaller but there seemed to be enough places to keep you well fed and you can always drive a few miles to another village for a dinner or two. I think because it's smaller, it would feel much more like "your own town." I loved it.

http://www.pehoushek.com/SHOWCASE/Villages1.htm

Hi folks. Your thread caught my eye, and I did an image search at Alta Vista. Well..... The page cited above had some of the most beautiful photographs of Tourettes-sur-Loup and a place called Carros Village. I was enchanted. Does anyone know how far Carros Village is from Tourettes, or how to find it on my map? Thanks, J.

I think it would depend somewhaton if you hae a car. The streets of Tourettes are very narrow and parking is hard to find. We stayed in Vence which is a lovely small town with more space if you have a car. You can drive to Tourettes in minutes. It is full of artists and artisans as someone has already noted. A delightful town to visit, but I think Vence has more to offer if you are staying a week.