Cannes,one of the most famed resorts of the charming and classy Côte D´Azur,a destination so famous for its everlasting coquetry elegance bordering Boulevard de la Croisette one of its most emblematic sites and captivating highlights.
That stylish and prestigious resort of Southern France is one of the most exclusive and glamorous places of the French Riviera since some decades ago,so famous and well known all around the world,thanks also to its prestige linked to the renowned and famed Film Festival and the International Jet set which started to frequent that symbol of France on a spectacular coastline as marvellous frame of a a site which never lost its attributes during its history.
Tourism Industry is the main resource thanks to the several international events,its unmistakable glamour,its inviting beaches and the natural beauty of that Mediterranean corner offers with its unforgettable landscapes which inspired a multitude of artists who fell in love with such divine views.
The proximity of other important coastal cities and towns such as Nice,Saint Tropez,Antibes and the Principality of Monaco is another aspect which played an important role and definitely another incentive to visit Cannes which always shows its splendour.
Situated at 900,0 kilometres from Paris and at 165,0 kilometres from Marseille in a simply walk through its streets,you will find a very enchanting and captivating atmosphere.a wide range of cosy cafes, chic restaurants and elegant boutiques and all around a sophisticated air which anyway is never retro or demodé, Cannes is like the wine,the years go by and it seems to be more and more delightful.
With its 75,000 inhabitants,Cannes is the third largest city by population in the department after Nice and Antibes,able to grow at the edge of the tourist season and festivals.That place is so popular worldwide for its luxury and its international Film festival, held since 1946 and furthermore it was also residence of many prominent people,it is enough to mention the famous French painter Renoir who lived there for many years and totally in love with Cannes,set of his most deep inspirations.
Art and artists have always brought fame and notoriety and Cannes,with their presence there was always and every time an automatic promotion which have definitely increased the popularity of the resort.
That place also gained is identity thanks to to some comments and phrases as one by the popular American writer Henry Miller,who in his famous letters to Anais wrote about Cannes "What a clear atmosphere so clear! I had never seen things like this,I think, with so much brightness and clarity in my life. Here the sun is sweet ... the French sunshine! Today I just did the idea of what have the Mediterranean. I was amazed the islands near Cannes, appear in purple at noon! "A message which in its simplicity is a hymn and channel of transmission to exalt the beauty of such place.
Historically the area where lies the current Cannes was already inhabited in the 2nd century BC and it is believed that a Ligurian tribe the Ossibiani created a settlement called Aegitna but that historic information despite those Celtic tribes populated those territories is still uncertain they established an official settlement while it is certain the presence of Phoenicians who explored the local coasts in ancient times.
The former official settlement was a fishing village used as a staging place between the nearest islands of Lerins ad in the 69 A.D the current city became the scene of a violent conflict between the troops of Otho and Vitellius in an internal fight of the Roman Empire who colonised the entire region but it was a period in which Rome in its high class and Patrician society was protagonist of several plots and revolts.
The name Cannes probably derives from the 10th century when the city was known as Canua (cane) coming from the small maritime dock of Ligurian origin surrounded by a determined vegetation and later adopted by the Romans who developed in the current resort during the colonisation a Castrum,a defencive inhabited complex which also was used for different purposes linked to social and politic life too.
After the fall of the Empire,all the coast was protagonist of several invasions,including Cannes which in medieval times developed its former fortifications.The chronological history continued with several battles conquests and re conquests in particular between Spaniards and French who were in constant disputes along the Mediterranean coasts to establish their strategic maritime domains.
The city gained prominence
and prestige in the mid of 19th century,concretely in the year 1834,when the British Baron Henry
Brougham accidentally discovered a small fishing village and fell in love
with that site.Lord Brougham was on his way to visit Italy when he was
prevented from entering in Nice which
was in that period part of the Kingdom of Piedmont and Sardinia under Savoy rule for an
epidemic of cholera broke out in Provence and forced to turn back so the
gentleman stopped one night in Cannes.Surprised and enchanted by the stupendous natural environment,the marvellous Mediterranean vegetation,a coast which was practically virgin lining marvellous emerald waters was the decision to come back every winter there and he bought a land building a beautiful mansion which was called Villa Eleonore Louise.
The Baron totally in love with the magnificent charm of the Côte D´Azur,started to work so hard to develop and improve the living conditions of the area,which was practically unknown to many.Subsequently,after a remodelling of buildings,roads,the resort attracted other English aristocrats and wealthy tourists who came to admire that paradise who was born for fortuity.
That high class society immediately noticed that place was a sort of Eden and they decided as the the famous Baron to build elegant houses and villas to spend pleasant holidays and enjoying stays in winter season thanks to the mild climate the French coast offers.
It is from there with further constructions as the Casino,Luxury Hotels and the famed Festival du Cinema (the Film Festival) that Cannes elevated its position in the most prestigious ranking as a Top Destination.
Another activity which was developed in Cannes year by year was shopping,the idea was to transform the city in a sort of little Paris and in a short time many chic boutiques and relevant shops of jewelry were opened,also that detail undoubtedly contributed to increase the incoming flows of tourism in that resort of the Côte D´Azur which was already so popular,the presence of Elite figures and prominent people was naturally a more than valid instrument to increase also that kind of business and activities.
People who was visiting Nice for some meetings started to stop in Cannes so close and also became apart a destination for enjoyable stays also a destination of one day shopping.
The centre of Cannes is mainly developed behind its stylish harbour, harbour,flanking Promenade de la Pantiero and Boulevard de la Croisette,the first flanking Le Vieux Port,the old port and Quai Saint-Pierre which is a sort of prolongation reaching the most southern side of the harbour in correspondence of Quai du Large.
From that place there are the boats departures to the Iles Lerins and Saint Tropez,while the second runs north of the iconic Palais de Festivals de Cannes and adjacent to Rue Jean de Riouffe which is one of the most important streets entering in the lively core of Cannes.
In the immediate proximity there are the most important streets of the centre such as Rue d´Antibes,Rue Buttura,Rue Meynadier and Place de la Gare,the square where is situated the station.Aveunue Bachada Said Boualam and Boulevard D´Alsace are two long boulevards at north which are together a kind of belt separating the centre to the immediate urban extra radius,while Boulevard Carnot is the main axis which from that junction runs toward north crossing several quarters of the city.
The most prestigious shopping areas of Cannes are framed between the famous and celebrated Rue d'Antibes,Boulevard La Croisette and Rue Meynardier.
Rue d'Antibes is the main shopping street in Cannes,it is a long narrow street, running from the Hôtel de Ville (the Town Hall) eastwards,parallel to La Croisette only a few blocks away from the beach.You will find in that street several boutiques with the most celebrated brands and accessories by relevant Designers such as Kenzo,Esprit,Mango,Diesel,Sephora,Zarabut but also many elegant cafes,cinemas and theatres,that is the street which was mainly developed to launch the Prêt a porter of Cannes.
It continues to be that today,the shops are very innovative and they present day by day new articles,new trends,it is like to be in Paris,obviously it is an ideal place for all people loves to find and buy the most fashionable products.
Boulevard La Croisette bordering the Mediterranean is undoubtedly the most important highlight and tourist attraction in the city.It is an avenue approximately 12,0 kilometres long along the the sea,flanked by palm trees,chic cafes,elegant bistros and a several number of shops and restaurants all around.
That beautiful promenade is famous for its expensive boutiques and prestigious Hotels such as the famed Majestic,Le Grand Hotel and Martinez.
The prestige of Boulevard La Croisette started when in the year 1858 the first buildings were established there and later with the luxury Hotels and palaces of the European Nobility.For all that Cannes became also thanks to that place a site with an everlasting coquetry elegance which was protagonist along that iconic boulevard which always transmits in all its essence something of special and magnetic attracting a multitude of people.
In the 60s when the French Cinema conquered the world with some great figures such as Michel Piccoli,Jean Paul Belmondo,Brigitte Bardot,Alain Delon and many others that avenue was one of the favourite of that Jet Set,a walk in the most chic and classy Cannes flanking the Mediterranean with in the air a melody of Maurice Chevalier,Yves Montand,Edith Piaf or Charles Aznavour also that created such unique glamour and pleasant atmosphere which conquered so many people worldwide.
A suggestion about the best time to visit La Croisette is in the early morning hours,when you can enjoy in total relax an atmosphere of Belle Epoque evoking Paris with smell of coffee and delicious brunches in its cafes and admiring the over 4,0 kilometres of sandy beaches with a splendid panoramic the the islands Lerins,a beautiful scenery of course,furthermore with the presence of palaces and buildings remembering the best Parisian districts.During the day naturally you can enjoy a walk there,obviously it is always very busy and lively.
Rue Meynadier is well known as Rue Grande,(Big
Street) is the direct link between the old town west of the port and the modern
districts which starts north of the street immediately after Boulevard Victor Tuby.Extremely lively,excellent place
if you want to enjoy a small and cosy restaurant and completed by the presence of beautiful houses
and palaces mainly dated the 18th century apart rich of particular and elegant shops.That street for many people represents the spirit of Cannes such as gourmet,glamour,shopping and despite the resurfacing work,it never lost its original charm.If La Croisette is the face of what is Cannes that street is the soul,it is also where the aristocrats and the nobles in the past started their pleasant walks before to reach the picturesque historic centre.
It was also a sort of enjoyable hallway escaping from the glamour and strolling the narrow and peaceful streets around Le Chateau de Castre,before to reach the coast along Boulevard du Midi Jean Hibert which directly leads to the harbour from one of its sides and apart that one of the most suggestive corners of Cannes for its scenic environment.
Forget for a while now the Glamour of the La Croisette,the Hotels Majestic and Martinez,Rue D´Antibes and Rue de Meynadier the elegant cafes and immediately west you can discover the beauty of the old Cannes entering in the popular district of Le Suquet in Place Merimee or walking along the charming Rue St.Antoine.The old part of Cannes called Le Suquet is the historic centre of the former village and of the ancient citadel standing on the hill Mount Chevalier.
The name Suquet is not typically French it derives from the Old Provençal language and it means top.That area was In the year 154 BC during Roman Empire rule in that French coast a Castrum Defensum as a defencive bastion arranged in a strategic position at the top of the neighbourhood monitoring the coastline.
In the early 11th century, the Suquet becomes a possession of the monks of Lerins who built a tower as check point which could give the alarm to the inhabitants during the several Turkish assaults.The Tour de Suquet (Suquet Tower) is 20,0 metres high and it was built between the years 1070 and 1385,in those more than three centuries it was modified and reinforced.
You can climb it and from the top you can enjoy wonderful views of Cannes,Iles Lerins, and the Mediterranean coast.The old district still has some remains of the ancient walls Chapel and Le Chateau Castre The Castle Castre declared national heritage in 1790.
The castle was built in the 11th century as defencive bastion fortress to protect the former town and do not miss a visit to the Musée de la Castre (The Castre Museum).Opened in the year 1952,you will have the great opportunity to admire in that very interesting exhibition a rich collection of relics and artifacts of the Ancient Egypt,The Classic Ionian and Doric Greece,The Imperial Rome but also from Cyprus, Mesopotamia,Persia and Syria.
During the 15th century the decline of the Abbey of Lerins and the village was placed under the guardianship of the King so the decision to restore and reinforce that fortress which was in an advanced state of decay.
Another beautiful highlight
of the old Cannes is of course Notre Dame de l'Esperance a beautiful
Church in typical Gothic-Provençal style built between the 16th and 17th
century.Very charming is its stoned façade with gable roof and a splendid arched
portal flanked by a wall and the adjacent bell tower.The portico has a
Renaissance aspect and inside you can admire some Chapels on the aisles.The
Church was erected to replace the the Eglise Notre Dame Du Puy another Church
which was built by the monks which was considered too small.For its architectonic lines and detailed elements that Religious building is considered one of the best example of that period of the French Riviera.The nearby Chapelle de Sainte Anne is another old historical monument dated 12th century,that Chapel hosts a beautiful collection of musical instruments from around the world and worth a visit.
In Cannes you can have the opportunity to enjoy a mini-cruise visiting those famous small and beautiful islands called Illes Lerins which are of course another of the main attractions that captivating city offers.The Islands are located southeast of La Croisette approximately 900 metres off the coast of Cannes.and the largest is Ile Sainte-Marguerite (St.Margareth Island).
Landing on its small harbour,the island has a sort of small village with a couple of restaurants and bars and some huts.The most important attraction is definitely the Fort Royal,built by the famous Cardinal Richelieu and later reinforced by Vauban in 1712,for its historic value and importance it is classified as Historic National Monument.
During the Thirty Years War,the Spanish Army occupied Ile Sainte Marguerite and they erected a former fort between the years 1635 to 1637. After the defeat of the Spaniards, reusing the rest of that devastated fortification the French rulers remodelled a new fortress.
In addition to its military function and from 1637 until the 20th century the fort was also used as a prison.Classified as Historic Monument in 1927, in the year 1944 it lost its military purposes and in the year 1995 it was purchased by the City of Cannes.
That place was used as a military prison and it is linked to the that enigmatic Man,protagonist in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas immortalised in his famous novel The Viscount de Bragelonne.The island also hosts the Maritime Museum where you can discover the famous prison at the time of the King Louis XIV.
The painter Jean Le Gac made a route from cell to cell, which traces the history of places and men.The island was also inhabited since the Roman period and there is the chance to admire the Roman cisterns which are collected in the archaeological site.
The excavations on the island and the underwater of the surroundings have allowed the museum to exhibit the remains of wall paintings of the first century,the remains of the Roman wreck of the 1st century BC and the wreck of the 10th century.
From the terrace of the museum overlooking the sea, the view is amazing, from the Southern Alps to Cap d'Antibes and the picturesque Esterel.Covered totally with pines and eucalyptus trees,that small island is crossed by paths and it is a great opportunity to enjoy the splendid Mediterranean flora and marvellous nature.
The other island called
Ile Saint Honorat even the smaller,it was once the site of a famous and
important monastery founded in the 5th century and currently
inhabited by Cistercian monks.Both islands are accessible by
ferry,the service is managed by Trans Côte D´Azur Compagnie Maritime
with departure from Nice and Cannes.There are other two small islets in that charming
archipelago: the islet Tradelière Saint-Féréol very small but very pretty.Cannes is also famous for its Casinos,it has three, the Palm Beach managed by Partouche Group, the Croisette and the Princes,those two are managed by the Group Lucien Barrière.The most accessible to the public is the Casino Croisette located, next to the Esplanade Georges Pompidou,Palais des Festivals and Palais des Congrès,the other two are pretty selective.
The local economy is mainly based mainly on tourism,trade, trade shows and aviation.Recently, its surroundings have become the centre for high technology thanks to Sophia Antipolis Technical Park located in the mountains beyond the city.
The International Film Festival of Cannes is of course a great source of income and it is a highlight of the city.Taking place in May,it is one of the most famous Film Festival in the World prestigious attracting visitors and stars from around the globe. Cannes is also home to the vast Real Estate fair MIPIM, but there are also other important fairs of media,advertising, tourism and congresses as well as an annual festival of fireworks.
Local cuisine offers the best of the French Riviera.Excellent and always fresh is fish and seafood prepared in several styles.The notorious Bouliabaisse that delicious fish stew is one of the highlights.Of high quality is also the local Stockfish,cod cooked with tomatoes,onion,salt,pepper,a good quantity of white wine with and addition of olives and fresh anchovies when it is served.
The proximity of Nice gave Cannes a traditional plate which is one of the most popular in the entire Côte D´Azur,the Salad Niçoise prepared with fresh tuna,anchovies,celery,black olives,onion,tomatoes,peppers and slices of hard eggs and another gastronomic highlight is the famed Ratatouille.
Very traditional is also the famed Pissaladière consisting in a tart of anchovies and black olives.The Socca is a local speciality very popular all around the entire region,similar to a Ligurian Focaccia,is a sort of crepe made by chickpeas flour,olive oil,cooked in oven and after that operation is possible adding slices of onion,fresh tomato,basil,oregano,other spices and other vegetables.Generally ate as snack and appetiser,just like the Pan-Bagnat a sort of sandwich including fresh onion and filled with salad Niçoise.
Excellent are also the Ravioli a la Niçoise combined with a casserole sauce and cheese.Also common are Gnocchi flavoured with herbs and basil.
The Porquetta is the local replica of the famous Italian Porchetta consisting in stuffed sucking pig flavoured by aromatic herbs.With pork meat is also prepared the Petit Farcis combined in its preparation by several vegetables such as onion,pepper,aubergines,courgettes adding mushrooms and cheese.
The Soup au Pistou is one of the most famous local recipes,a complete vegetable soup which has the basil as main ingredient combined with potatoes,cabbage,white beans,leaks,courgettes,carrots,garlic,swede, pepper,salt and bacon.
Notable is the wide selection of fine wines of Provence,such as Bandol,Cassis,Bellet,Palette,Barbaroux, Garnacha and Monastrell.Local Syrah,Cabernet-Sauvignon,Marsanne and a Vermentino very similar for taste and flavour to that one of Sardinia are also part of the refined and ample choice for all wine lovers.
The local grapes are of a sublime quality,cultivated in a land with a unique climate and a perfect soil ideal to create divine products,highly palatable,smooth and ready to satisfy the most demanded requests.
Cannes is served by several transports and connections.In the west area of the territory is situated Mandelieu Airport.It is a small airport reserved mainly for pleasure and business and the Heliport established at the end of the pier from the old port of Le Suquet.Thr resort is also located just 20,0 kilometres from the airport Nice Côte d'Azur so it is very easy to reach Cannes from that important and busy airport which provides several flights.
That beautiful resort with its cosmopolitan atmosphere full of history,culture, luxury,beaches and that glamour never lost make Cannes a great destination,its everlasting coquetry elegance bordering that iconic boulevard called La Croisette whichis undoubtedly one of its highlights and main attractions gives that place something superb and unique.
All around of that place there is much more,an endless list of charming,captivating and beautiful things full of essence making that site destination to enjoy all year,transmitting in every season all its fascinating and magnetic charm.
Francesco Mari
Recommended Hotels in Cannes
Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez
Hotel Villa Garbo
Hotel Majestic Barriere Cannes
Hotel Le Cavendish
Five Hotel & SPA
Hotel 7 Art
Hotel Cybelle
Hotel Renoir
Recommended Restaurants in Cannes
Restaurant La Mirabelle
Restaurant Le Manoir
Restaurant Assiette
Restaurant Le Bistrot Gourmand
Restaurant Amadeus
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