17 Activities
Road Trip to Aix-en-Provence: Exploring Cezanne's Footprints
Starts from
Marseille
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Activities
17
Duration
11 hrs 1 min
Length
51 mi
Guide details
Starts from
Marseille
Transportation
By Car
Guidance
Self-Guided
Duration
11 hrs 1 min
Length
51 mi
Emily Zanier
Blogger
- Explore Aix-en-Provence on the footsteps of Cézanne.
- Drive around Sainte Victoire Mountain, the favourite "model" of Cézanne.
- Visit all the sites where Cézanne lived and worked.
You will explore the main sights on the footsteps of Cézanne in Aix-en-Provence and around the Sainte Victoire mountain, where he lived, where he used to eat, where he died, and most essentially where he worked and where he found its inspiration.
Aix-en-Provence is the city of Cézanne and you can visit museums with its masterpieces, but also its studio and other sites related to the famous painter. And the Sainte Victoire mountain was his favourite subject, to which he dedicated 44 oil on canvas and 43 watercolours.
Aix-en-Provence is the city of Cézanne and you can visit museums with its masterpieces, but also its studio and other sites related to the famous painter. And the Sainte Victoire mountain was his favourite subject, to which he dedicated 44 oil on canvas and 43 watercolours.
You will explore the main sights on the footsteps of Cézanne in Aix-en-Provence and around the Sainte Victoire mountain, where he lived, where he used to eat, where he died, and most essentially where he worked and where he found its inspiration.
Aix-en-Provence is the city of Cézanne and you can visit museums with its masterpieces, but also its studio and other sites related to the famous painter. And the Sainte Victoire mountain was his favourite subject, to which he dedicated 44 oil on canvas and 43 watercolours.
Aix-en-Provence is the city of Cézanne and you can visit museums with its masterpieces, but also its studio and other sites related to the famous painter. And the Sainte Victoire mountain was his favourite subject, to which he dedicated 44 oil on canvas and 43 watercolours.
Emily Zanier
Blogger
- Explore Aix-en-Provence on the footsteps of Cézanne.
- Drive around Sainte Victoire Mountain, the favourite "model" of Cézanne.
- Visit all the sites where Cézanne lived and worked.
Day Itinerary
17 Activities
Day 1
49 mi2 mi
Visiting the Sites of Cézanne
You will visit all the sites on the footsteps of Cézanne. In the morning, you will drive around the Sainte Victoire mountain that Cézanne painted so many times. You will have lunch at a restaurant where Cézanne used to eat. And in the afternoon, you will visit Cézanne's studio and some other Cézanne's sites in Aix-en-Provence. If you want to visit more of Aix-en-Provence, you will need more time. This trip is only about Cézanne.
Pont des Trois Sautets
Bridge
Open Details
This bridge is famous for Cézanne, that is where he came to find inspiration in the Summer of 1906 and where he painted some bathers.
From here you will start going around the Sainte Victoire mountain, famous for being the main subject of many paintings by the French Master Cézanne. The circular route around the mountain is about 60 kilometres long and very scenic with views on the mountains from different angles.
From here you will start going around the Sainte Victoire mountain, famous for being the main subject of many paintings by the French Master Cézanne. The circular route around the mountain is about 60 kilometres long and very scenic with views on the mountains from different angles.
4.2 mi
20 min
Carrières de Bibémus
National Park
Open Details
These stone pits were used from the Roman period until 1885, they were used to build many monuments in Aix. Cézanne rented a place here from 1895, that is where Cézanne painted his red rocks, and it is said that is where cubism was born. Cézanne painted 11 oil on canvas and 16 watercolours here.
0.3 mi
5 min
Vauvenargues Castle
Castle
Open Details
Then you will drive on the North side of the Mountain Sainte Victoire. In this small village, you can see the castle of Vauvenargues that belonged to the Counts of Provence and was rebuilt from the 15th century. In 1958, Picasso bought this castle and that is where he is buried in the garden. You cannot visit the place.
Picasso admired Cezanne a lot, he said he was the Father of them all. With modesty, Picasso only represented the Sainte Victoire mountain from the North side since Cezanne dedicated 87 paintings from the South side. If you would like to follow the footsteps of Picasso on the French Riviera, heck out the 4-days-long travel guide starting in Nice.
Picasso admired Cezanne a lot, he said he was the Father of them all. With modesty, Picasso only represented the Sainte Victoire mountain from the North side since Cezanne dedicated 87 paintings from the South side. If you would like to follow the footsteps of Picasso on the French Riviera, heck out the 4-days-long travel guide starting in Nice.
14.9 mi
40 min
Église Saint-Pons
Church
Open Details
When you get here, you went around the mountain, and you are now on the South side, the favourite side of Cézanne. So enjoy the view and the light that Cézanne liked so much. Park your car and have a walk in the small Provençal village of Puyloubier. It is a typical Provençal village at 350 meters of altitude.
9.2 mi
25 min
Le Relais Cézanne
Restaurant
Open Details
Have a good lunch at le Relais Cézanne on the terrace, it is a bar and restaurant where Cézanne used to go.
0.2 mi
5 min
Moulin Cézanne
Art Gallery
Open Details
This mill is named after Cézanne because he really liked that place, and it gives a great view on the Sainte Victoire mountain. Nowadays, it is a small art gallery that shows works from other artists.
4.8 mi
20 min
Cézanne's Studio
Museum
Open Details
This was the studio of Cézanne. He got it built, so he could contemplate the Sainte Victoire Mountain from the same angle that from the stone pits of Bibemus that you visited this morning. The studio was conceived like if it was in exterior, surrounded by greenery and with great light. That is where he painted his last masterpieces, from 1902 to his death in 1906.
2.5 mi
15 min
Car Park
Parking
Open Details
Park here to get the glimpse of Aix, including two art museums, Cézanne's family estate and gravestone, as well as the historic city centre.
0.3 mi
5 min
Musée Granet
Art Museum
Open Details
The Granet museum showcases art pieces from the 1st century AD. to the 20th century. There are a lot of masterpieces from European art history from the 14th to the 18th century, including paintings by Rubens and Rembrandt. In the sculptures room, you will find some busts of Cézanne amongst others. And the collection of modern and contemporary art shows art from Cézanne to Giacometti, and includes paintings by Cézanne like the Bathers, Madame Cézanne, amongst other paintings from Picasso, Fernand Léger, etc.
0.2 mi
5 min
Musée Granet – Collection Jean Planque
Art Museum
Open Details
This is a nice, newly restored chapel that hosts the Planque art collection. It includes art pieces from Cézanne, Picasso, Monet, Degas, Bonnard, Vallotton, Dufy, etc.
0.6 mi
15 min
Saint-Pierre Cemetery
Cemetery
Open Details
This is the cemetery where Cézanne is buried. You can find his grave.
2 mi
10 min
Bastide du Jas de Bouffan
Historic Site
Open Details
This place is classified as a historical monument. This place was bought by Cézanne's father in 1859 and was the family property until 1899. That is where Cézanne found a lot of his inspiration for his first works of art. In total, he painted 36 oil on canvas and 17 watercolours here during 40 years.
0.1 mi
5 min
Tourist Information Center
Visitor Centre
Open Details
You can stop at the tourist information centre of Aix-en-Provence. There you can get a little brochure "pocket Cézanne" to go see more sites on the footsteps of Cézanne. It will show you the address of the places like the house where he was born, where his father worked, etc.
0.3 mi
10 min
Drôle d'Endroit
Restaurant
Open Details
Have dinner in this original restaurant in the historical centre of Aix-en-Provence. Take advantage to have a walk before or after dinner on the famous street "Cours Mirabeau" and enjoy the nice atmosphere of the beautiful town of Aix-en-Provence.