Bastide du Jas de Bouffan – A visit to Cézanne’s Country House Under Restoration

On the edge of Aix-en-Provence lies the Bastide du Jas de Bouffan, once the family home of the artist Paul Cézanne. This ochre-coloured house was where the artist began to shape his vision, painting the grounds and countryside around it. Today it sits opposite a retail park and beside a freeway, a far cry from the rural setting Cézanne knew, but still a place that holds his story. With a few days in Aix, we decided to visit the Bastide to witness the work in progress.

Paul Cézanne, born in Aix in 1839, is often described as the bridge between Impressionism and Cubism. His work, with its bold brushstrokes, muted tones, and repeated study of forms, shaped the path of modern art. During his years at Jas de Bouffan, he painted the house, the pond, and the surrounding gardens, returning to the same scenes time and again.

A restoration project is slowly bringing the bastide and its gardens back to life. Visitors can choose between a garden ticket, which allows free roaming, or a timed house tour. Arriving without a house ticket, we explored only the gardens (see our visitor tips at the bottom!) Even in the height of summer, when the greens fade to yellow and burnt orange, the grounds hold a calm charm.

One of the highlights is a series of easels placed throughout the gardens. Each shows a reproduction of a Cézanne painting at the spot where he once stood. Seeing the same views he painted — the house with its pale shutters, the pool reflecting the trees, the dusty paths under dappled shade — gives a quiet sense of connection to his work. The modern-looking pavilion by the pond contrasts with the old bastide but frames the scene beautifully.

The gardens in summer are subdued, their palette muted, but the light is unmistakably Provence. Cézanne painted here across seasons, often capturing softer spring colours, but even the sun-bleached leaves seem part of the story.

I believe the house itself currently offers more storytelling than artefacts. It is very much at the start of an evolving project, but visiting supports the ongoing restoration of Cézanne’s home. There’s a small café by the pool if you want to linger, and the site is an easy eight-minute Uber from Villa Gallici. For those who don’t mind the heat, it’s about a fifteen-minute walk back into Aix, which we managed in the midday sun.

Bastide du Jas de Bouffan – Cézanne’s Family Home Under Restoration

On the edge of Aix-en-Provence lies the Bastide du Jas de Bouffan, once the family home of Paul Cézanne. The name translates roughly as the Jas de Bouffan mansion, with “jas” referring to a sheepfold — a nod to its agricultural past before it became the Cézanne estate.

This ochre-coloured house was where Cézanne began to shape his vision, painting the grounds and countryside around it. Today it sits opposite a retail park and beside a freeway, a far cry from the rural setting Cézanne knew, but still a place that holds his story.

Paul Cézanne, born in Aix in 1839, is often described as the bridge between Impressionism and Cubism. His work, with its bold brushstrokes, muted tones, and repeated study of forms, shaped the path of modern art. During his years at Jas de Bouffan, he painted the house, the pond, and the surrounding gardens, returning to the same scenes time and again.

A restoration project is slowly bringing the bastide and its gardens back to life. Visitors can choose between a garden ticket, which allows free roaming, or a timed house tour. Arriving without a house ticket, we explored only the gardens. Even in the height of summer, when the greens fade to yellow and burnt orange, the grounds hold a calm charm.

One of the highlights is a series of easels placed throughout the gardens. Each shows a reproduction of a Cézanne painting at the spot where he once stood. Seeing the same views he painted — the house with its pale shutters, the pool reflecting the trees, the dusty paths under dappled shade — gives a quiet sense of connection to his work. The modern-looking pavilion by the pond contrasts with the old bastide but frames the scene beautifully.

The gardens in summer are subdued, their palette muted, but the light is unmistakably Provence. Cézanne painted here across seasons, often capturing softer spring colours, but even the sun-bleached leaves seem part of the story.

The house itself currently offers more storytelling than artefacts. It is very much taking shape and not as polished as say Giverney , but visiting supports the ongoing restoration of Cézanne’s family home. There’s a small café by the pool if you want to linger, and the site is an easy eight-minute Uber from Villa Gallici. For those who don’t mind the heat, it’s about a fifteen-minute walk back into Aix, which we managed in the midday sun.

This isn’t a polished attraction like Cézanne’s studio or the galleries in town, but that’s its appeal. Jas de Bouffan feels real, a place still finding its footing, and one that quietly rewards those who take the time to visit. You leave with a better sense of Cézanne’s world and the landscape that shaped his legacy in Provence.

Tips for Visiting Jas de Bouffan

You will need to book a timed visit to see the house. Whilst you can buy tickets on the gate, there may be a few hours’ wait for a time slot, so booking in advance is recommended.

– Website for details and tickets: cezanne2025.com

– The bastide is accessible to people with reduced mobility, except for the first floor.

– Pets are allowed in the park on a lead, but not inside the bastide.

– Google Maps and Uber may direct you to a private road, meaning you have to walk the final 500 metres to the entrance — not a problem, but worth noting if you have mobility issues.

– There is a small café, toilets, and a gift shop on site.

– Take a bottle of water, especially if visiting in summer.

– Address: 4 Rue de Valcros, 13090 Aix-en-Provence, France

– Opening hours: 09:00 to 19:00 daily (check for seasonal changes)