Estaque

L'Estaque is a historic coastal village on the Mediterranean in southern France, located to the northwest of Marseille. It is part of the Marseille metropolitan area and sits on a rocky headland facing the bay, with a small harbor and hillside streets that blend maritime and Provençal character.

Historically a fishing hamlet, L'Estaque developed through local quarrying and small-scale industry in the 19th century, later becoming a retreat for artists and visitors drawn by the bold light and rugged landscape of the calanques nearby.

The village is closely associated with Paul Cézanne, who lived and painted there during the late 1870s and early 1880s, producing landscapes that helped push the move to modern painting. In the early 20th century, L'Estaque attracted other modern artists; in 1908 Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque visited the area, and their encounters with Cézanne's work on the site helped spur the development of Cubism.

Today, L'Estaque maintains its coastal character with a working harbor, narrow lanes, and views over the sea. It is accessible by road from Marseille and is a destination for walkers and beachgoers, as well as for those following the history of modern art.