“Whoever comes here once, stays forever”
‘Qui li vèn li viéu’ The
Provençal motto of the city of Cannes
At the foot of the emerald Esterel Mountains, on the shores of the Mediterranean Napoule Bay, an amazing city has spread, which has turned from a once unknown fishing village into one of the most expensive and luxurious resorts in the world. Cannes is a symbol of luxurious relaxation, wealth and belonging to the elite. Marvelous landscapes, wonderful beaches stretching along the legendary Croisette, fashion boutiques on Antibes Street, first-class hotels, fine restaurants, glamorous nightclubs, ancient churches, magnificent aristocratic villas surrounded by fragrant shady parks, the annual Cannes Film Festival… And, of course, the azure sea, which, according to the writer Prosper Mérimée, is difficult to describe, and to present it you need “only a train ticket to come to Cannes and see what it is!”
Geography and location
Cannes is a resort city in the south of France, located on the Mediterranean coast, on the shores of Napoule Bay, to which the Esterel mountain range descends. The city, with a population of over 70 thousand inhabitants, covers an area of 19.6 km2 and is one of the most popular resorts on the Cote d’Azur.
Climate
The climate in Cannes is Mediterranean subtropical – with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of +10°C, and the hottest is July with an average temperature of +25°C. In summer, thanks to the sea breeze, Cannes never gets too hot.
History
The name of the city is interpreted in two versions – Cannes in French (Cannes) and Cannes (Canas) in Occitan or Provencal dialect. This name comes from the word “canne”, which means “reed” in French, which grew here in abundance in those distant times, when the ancient Romans in 42 BC. founded a small fortification on the slopes of Mount Chevalier. For many centuries, Cannes was a small fishing village, but in 1834 an event occurred that completely changed the history of this place: the British Lord Chancellor Sir Henry Peter Broughem and his daughter Eleanor went on vacation to Italy, but since there was a cholera epidemic in Europe, they were forced to stay in Cannes. The beauty of the town and its mild climate fascinated the lord so much that he decided to settle here by building the villa “Eleanor”. The lord was followed by many English aristocrats, and then by representatives of the Russian nobility. In 1838 a port was built in Cannes, which was immediately filled with expensive snow-white yachts, in 1863 a railway station was built, and in 1946 the first film festival was held in Cannes, which became one of the most prestigious in the world. Today, Cannes is a magnificent Mediterranean resort, the pearl of the Cote d’Azur, and still a favorite vacation spot for billionaires, world stars and celebrities.
International Festival of Cannes
The International Festival of Cannes (Festival international du film de Cannes) traces its history back to 1939, when it was conceived to be held, but postponed due to the outbreak of World War II. For the first time, the festival was officially held from September 20 to October 5, 1946, and since 1968 the festival began to be held in May. The venue for the Cannes Film Festival is the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès on the legendary Croisette. The jury consists of the leading masters of world cinematography: directors, actors, critics, and the most prestigious prize is the famous Palme d’Or, which was won in 1958 by the Soviet (Russian) film The Cranes Are Flying directed by Mikhail Kalatozov.
Sights of Cannes
Cannes is a beautiful Mediterranean city, with its own history and famous places.
The Promenade de La Croisette is a legendary promenade, one of the most famous in the world. A magnificent 2.8 km long boulevard, decorated with slender palm trees, is surrounded by wonderful gardens and parks. On the one hand, the Croisette is bordered by picturesque sandy beaches, and on the other, chic hotels, boutiques, restaurants and cafes.
The Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, the site of the Cannes Film Festival, was built on the Croisette in 1946 by architects Bennett & Drue and covers an area of 28,000 m2.
Museum de la Castre– located in a medieval castle in the upper part of the Old Town. The museum presents a rich collection of Mediterranean artifacts, works of art from Oceania, America and the Himalayas, paintings of the East and Provence.
Museum of the Sea (Musée de la Mer) – located on the Lerins island of Sainte-Marguerite, in a fortress of the 17th century. Fort Royal. Today it houses the Museum of the Sea, which houses archaeological finds from shipwrecks.
Museum de la Malmaison (Galerie de la Malmaison) – a pavilion that is part of the Grand Hôtel, built in 1863, today – a gallery of modern art.
Orthodox Church of Michael the Archangel – located on Alexandre III Boulevard, built in 1894 by the French architect Nouveau. Some representatives of the Romanov family were buried in the crypt of the temple.
Lérins Abbey (Abbaye de Lérins) – a unique architectural and historical monument – a Catholic monastery of the Cistercian order, built on the island of Saint Honorat (Lerins Islands). The construction of the monastery began in 1050 and continued for three centuries.
Church of St. George (Saint George’s Church) – located on Roi Albert Street, built in 1887 by the English architect Blomfield. The church has completely preserved its appearance and is an excellent example of English architecture.
Church of Our Lady of Hope (Notre-Dame de l’Esperance) – built in the middle of the 17th century.
Villa Rothschild – the former residence of Lord Brougham – a magnificent neoclassical mansion built in 1881 and surrounded by an amazing park.
Cemetery du Grand Jas (Cimetière du Grand Jas) is a famous cemetery located in a magnificent park in the northwestern part of Cannes. Many celebrities are buried in the ancient cemetery, opened in 1866: writers Prosper Merimee and Klaus Mann, Russian jeweler Peter Faberge, and in the English section of the cemetery there is a monument to Lord Brougham.
Restaurants
As befits a luxury resort, Cannes abounds with a variety of restaurants, cafes and bars for all tastes, the most famous of which:
Le Fouquet’s – a favorite restaurant of movie stars during the Cannes Film Festival.
LA PAlme d’Or (Martinez Hotel) – Awarded with 2 Michelin stars, Art Deco style restaurant with a wonderful panoramic terrace.
Villa des Lys (Hotel Majestic Barriere) is a modern Provencal restaurant awarded with 2 Michelin stars.
Auberge Provencale (10, rue Saint-Antoine) is the oldest restaurant in Cannes, opened in 1860.
Chez Astoux (43, Felix Faure) is a fish restaurant with a large selection of seafood.
Felix (63, La Croisette)– an excellent fish restaurant on the Croisette.
Arcimboldo (22, rue Maubourg) is one of the best Italian restaurants in the city.
Shopping
Cannes has many luxury shops, haute couture, jewelry and perfume boutiques. The most luxurious shops are located on rue d’Antibes, which crosses the city parallel to the beach, and on the legendary Croisette. Rue Meynadier is lined with souvenir shops, clothing stores and grocery stores with local delicacies. It is equally interesting to visit the colorful Mediterranean markets of the resort, for example, the markets of Forville and La Bocca, or the market open on Saturdays and Sundays at les Allées de la Liberté, where works of art and products of local craftsmen are sold.
