Travel bucket list idea:
Cezanne’s Studio
Aix-en-Provence, Provence, France
Photo Sophie Spiteri
Cezanne’s studio on Les Lauves hill was designed by the artist himself in 1902, although he only used it when it was too cold to paint outdoors (he died in 1906, after getting caught in the rain while painting his beloved Mont Sainte-Victoire). Over the decades it has been maintained as he left it – a must-see for any Cezanne fan, the one place in Aix where his presence is tangible.
If you continue another kilometre or so north from the studio, along Avenue Paul Cezanne, you’ll come to Les Lauves, the Terrain des Peintures viewpoint – where Cezanne often planted his easel to paint Mont Sainte-Victoire.
Logistics
Getting there & doing it
It’s a 10-minute walk from the cathedral, or get there on city bus No.1 from the Rotonde Poste. You don’t need to book ahead, but they limit visits to 30 minutes. Do book in advance though for the daily 30-minute tours in English (around 3.30pm). French tours take place in the morning.
When to do it
The studio is open all year round, seven days a week, but hours vary by day. See the website for the latest timings.