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After years of neglect, Charles Trenet’s home in Aix-en-Provence will experience a revival. Our colleagues from “Figaro” have revealed certain details of this renovation which will give rise to a place inspired by the Abba museum in Stockholm, particularly in terms of scenography. The situation was serious since the state of the estate “is nothing but desolation”.
Charles Trenet, his house in Aix damaged and abandoned: a page is about to be turned despite the controversy
Died in February 2001, left an indelible mark on French song. Nicknamed “the singing madman”he remains unforgettable with his unique style and boundless creativity. Charles Trenet began his career in the 1930s and quickly found success with songs like Boom! et There is joy. His work, influenced by jazz and surrealism, includes timeless classics such as The Sea, Sweet France et What remains of our loves?. If he stays, his genius is no longer celebrated as much, or at least not until its doors reopen soon. This looted and ransacked property will experience a revival very soon. According to our colleagues at Figaro, “at the request of the current owner, the municipal council has just given the green light for its rehabilitation. The State, represented by the Prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône, also supports the project. The opportunity to bring back to life the fantastical universe of the great melodist of the 20th century.
“After two years of work and 12,5 millions of euros of investments financed without a cent of public moneythis wonderful property should open its doors to the curious at the end of 2026″, a announcement . Our colleagues who were able to visit the area discovered a “garden overgrown with brambles”. “The private chapel where the carefree man parked his Rolls-Royce is submerged under ivy. In the distance, the turrets of the 17th century bastide protrude from the pines”they observed. Thierry Brayer, speaker-writer pointed out to Le Figaro that “with its castle-style battlements and its 10,000 Provençal tiles, this residence is frankly original”. If the statues offered by Cocteau and Jean Marais to the poet were sheltered, “the rest is just desolation.” “Everything is tagged. A mattress forgotten by homeless people is lying around. The ceiling is pierced with gaping holes. The stairs are in danger of collapsing.”details Le Figaro. “All accesses will be closed, tags erased, cracks filled”, notably promised one of the site managers.
Time for rehabilitation
“Besides the garden with trees of different species, streams, a lovers’ alcove with a waterfall, a bandstand, a children’s carousel where you can hear There is joythe bastide will celebrate his work in music, painting and cinema”, indicated Patricia Pellissier, the site’s programming director. And to specify: “Inspired by the Abba Museum in Stockholmthe scenography will include holograms where we can sing alongside Trenet. Subject to the green light from the Archbishopric of Aix-en-Provence, weddings will be celebrated in the chapel.
The rehabilitation of this area could perhaps also be seriously tainted by the scandal of the 1960s. Le Figaro mentioned the fact that the artist had been accused by his 18-year-old cook of having had “unnatural relationships” with his boss and from him “having served as a tout”. In the process, two other men accused Charles Trenet. “A law passed under Vichy, which gives homosexuals the sexual majority at 21, is still in force. Trenet will spend twenty-eight days in Aix prison”recalled our colleagues. Le Figaro of the time even reported d’ “orgies nocturnes” and “a penchant for irresistible ephebes”.
