Paul Cézanne in Aix Smartphone App In Cézanne’s Footsteps

Since 1990, visitors to Aix have been able to follow in the footsteps of Cezanne courtesy of 3,500 markers on the pavements and footpaths, as he wended from home to studio to painting site and then to cafes in town after a long day at the easel.

Now the Aix-en-Provence Tourist Office has launched an app based on their brochure, ‘Sur Les Pas de Cézanne’. ‘Experience Cézanne with your smartphone’, we are invited.

As visitors approach 32 key sites on the walk, geolocalisation activates an information panel and a virtual guide with key facts about the site. Continue reading here for the original Aixcentric article and details on this app.

Cézanne App Details

Sur les pas de Cezanne

“Discover the landmarks of his early years (the houses where he lived as a child, his schools, etc), the places that marked him, the addresses of his family and acquaintances, the cafés where he met his friends and other artists… From classical elegance to Baroque opulence, Aix’s architectural heritage is the setting for your walk in the old town and its surroundings.”

The App is free to download and available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play.

Paul Cézanne’s Aix

Bastide du Jas de Bouffan, home to the Cezanne family for 40 years, was closed over a year ago for renovation. So I went in for a visit on its last day of opening, and my goodness, it needed renovation: think cold, damp, with pieces of plaster hanging off the walls and ceilings.

Enormous trees frame the entrance of the manor house that dates from 1750. The sizeable property includes a large private garden with ponds, fountains, and sculptures. Paul Cézanne’s father (Louis-Auguste Cézanne) purchased the house in 1859 as a summer retreat from the centre of Aix-en-Provence. In today’s terms, having two homes in such proximity may seem ridiculous. However, one must remember that this era did not benefit from decent road infrastructure, air conditioning or other comforts we take for granted.

Over 40 years, Cezanne painted his home and the grounds 36 times in oil and 17 times with watercolour. After the painter’s father died, Paul Cézanne continued to live in the bastide, painting in his attic studio, with his mother until her death. The property was sold in 1899 and designated as a French historical monument in 2001.

Cézanne’s Studio

When I arrived in Aix-en-Provence for the first time, I rushed up the hill to see Cézanne’s atelier. Visiting his private studio was an inspiring experience. The atelier is above the city on Lauves Hill. I walked in the woods behind his studio, completely understanding his need for quiet solitude. This place allowed him to paint in the style he became known for but not highly respected for during his lifetime.