Saint-Paul-de-Vence, located in the South of France, provided Baldwin with his last home. He went there to recuperate following depression and illness. His health had suffered in the aftermath of trauma following the assassinations of his activist friends: Medgar Evers in 1963, Malcolm X in 1965, and Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968. Saint-Paul-de-Vence was where Baldwin enjoyed guests such as Nina Simone, Miles Davis, Maya Angelou and many more at his "Welcome Table."

Saint-Paul-de-Vence was a refuge for Baldwin and although the actual home was lost to a luxury real estate developer and transformed into condominiums, many of those inspired by Baldwin's work and legacy make the pilgrimage to this small provincial town to get a glimpse of where he spent his last days. Baldwin died on December 1, 1987 at the age of 63.