Plans for a giant new 80-hectare housing estate in Aix-en-Provence, the birthplace of painter Paul C茅zanne, are facing opposition from local associations who fear it will block the famous views of Sainte-Victoire Mountain.
Approval for the project, called 鈥�La Constance鈥� and situated on a plateau of the same name, was granted in March 鈥� but immediately challenged in the administrative courts.
Around 80 of C茅zanne鈥檚 most famous paintings depict the limestone mountain, capturing how it looked in different light conditions. One was painted from a site which will be blocked by the new housing estate.
鈥淭here is absolutely no reason why the houses, offices and shops need to be built as one huge unit on the site,鈥� Didier Bonfort, of Sauvegarde des paysages [saving the landscapes] de C茅zanne told The Connexion.
鈥淭here is a demand for new housing in Aix, but there are other ways of meeting it than lumping it all together like this, in what will effectively be a new town.鈥�
The mayor's office told The Connexion that plans had already received widespread public consultation.
C茅zanne's paintingRawpixel.com/Shutterstock
It added: 鈥淲e understand the concern, but adjustments have been made to suppress any part of the development which would have impacted the emblematic views painted by C茅zanne.鈥�
In a statement, the mayor, Sophie Joissains, insisted that housing was badly needed.
鈥淚 will not be resigned to the fact that young households cannot stay in Aix,鈥� she said.
Sauvegarde des paysages de C茅zanne has taken its case to the administrative courts.
鈥淲e have two actions in place,鈥� Mr Bonfort said. 鈥淥ne is to have the project thrown out on environmental grounds both because it blocks the view and threatens endangered species. The other is to prevent work from starting until the courts have decided the matter once and for all.鈥�
Half the site was farmland, he said, although it had been left overgrown since the town bought the site.
鈥淭here is a whole set of laws meant to protect farmland, but this was ignored. The rest of the site is made up of a valley and houses, which do not block the view like this huge development will. And there are protected species which will be threatened.鈥�
Planning permission was for 3,600 houses accommodating at least 10,000 people, plus five hectares of shops and seven hectares of offices.
Mr Bonfort claimed the project seemed to have been planned quietly by the municipality for at least 10 years, without the public being involved.
鈥淭he countryside around Aix is already well developed, which makes it even more urgent for the remaining open spaces to be protected.鈥�
The association hopes to find out before the summer if its bid to block work has been successful.
It is also considering launching a campaign against the project in the 2026 municipal elections and has had support from opposition groups on the municipal council.
Campaigners invite anyone interested to sign the online petition .
