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HISTORY
A thousand years with a smattering of history
Founded in 997 at the foot of a hill that served as a lookout post on the Seigniory of Rodoard, Cannes started out as a small fishing harbour overrun with reeds. It was called "Portu Canuae" and faced the Lérins Islands, known since Antiquity under the names of Léro and Lérina. In 999, one year before the awful Year One Thousand, a fortress was constructed, the "Castrum Marcellus", ancestor of the current Suquet.
"Portu Canuae" had its "kan" - its "high point" in Celto-Ligurian terminology, hence the name Cannes! Having experienced Spanish, English and Saracen invasions, the "royal" incarceration of the enigmatic Man in the Iron Mask, the spectacular breakout of Marshal Bazaine, the armies of Charles Quint warring against those of François I, not to mention the landing of Napoleon Bonaparte, Cannes' destiny has always had a cosmopolitan flavour…
From 1834, Cannes became one of THE places to be! Across the Channel, the east of the French Riviera had acquired a great reputation for its climate after a former Royal Chancellor, Lord Henry Brougham and Vaux, decided to spend winter here... and ended up staying thirty-four years! Like an ambassador inviting his acquaintances to Cannes, Lord Brougham unveiled this new sanctuary of prosperity and elegance to kings, queens, princes and dukes, and to major writers and artists including Prosper Mérimée, Guy de Maupassant, Domergue, Chateaubriand, Victor Hugo, Stendhal, Picabia, Renoir and Picasso.
And so the first tourist season was born, from autumn to winter. With the advent of paid leave, the season switched to spring and summer. In the days when the first trains were conveying Queen Victoria of England, Tsarina Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, and the kings and queens of Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and Spain, Cannes was embellished with sumptuous palaces, mansions, big luxury hotels and venues for festivities. The 20th century transformed the City of Princes into a leading light of tourism on the French Riviera.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TOWN
Suquet and the old harbour
The "Suquet" is where Cannes began. We suggest you start your tour of Cannes with the old town and its famous Suquet. You can reach it from various angles, taking steeply sloping narrow streets, crisscrossed with picturesque flights of winding steps where the pedestrian is king. Visit the ramparts, the Musée de la Castre, the square tower and the church. Admire the view over the town, the harbour, the Croisette, the Lérins Islands and a substantial portion of the Bay of Cannes. Cannes' soul lies at the foot of the old town: Forville market with its belt of food shops (butchers, charcutiers, fishmongers, bakers, wine merchants, etc). The old harbour unfurls below the Suquet. The oldest section, "Quai St Pierre", dates from 1838. The harbour accommodates old sailing ships as well as speedboats. In September, sailboats set out from the harbour for the "Royal Regattas".
La Croisette
In 1850, the Croisette was nothing more than a path running parallel to the sea across sand dunes. La Croisette is now an avenue renowned for its prestigious shops and the luxury hotels that have established Cannes' history, including the Carlton, the Martinez, and the Majestic.
Beaches
On the shores of one of the most beautiful bays in the world Cannes' beaches offer seven kilometres of fine sand between the Estérel and the Lérins Islands, and a horizon where the blue of the sky blends with the blue of the sea. Flooded with generous sunshine even in the low season, they symbolise lazy days and a gentle pace of life. The public beaches of La Bocca and Le Mourre Rouge are interspersed with a series of private beaches, with a more urban feel, on Boulevard Jean Hibert and La Croisette.
PARTNERS
1) Hôtel Cézanne 4*
The bar, swathed in pale grey leather, the Perspex counter lit up with red neon lights, the floor in volcanic stone and sections of the walls in contrasting colours, all create a designer feel, rounded off with a few notes of soul music... Outside, a teak terrace area features a raised garden and dark furniture in a resin weave. A warm and colourful universe is created in each of the hotel's rooms - fuchsia, mauve, blue, red and many more, dotted randomly on each floor. Light fittings and ornaments with a designer feel stylishly complement black wood furniture embellished with brushed steel, and parquet flooring in tropical woods. Backlighting shows leather headboards off to their best advantage. The hotel features a gym and a spa, where the atmosphere is meditative. Meanwhile, the steam room whisks you away to Oriental shores with its mosaics and stone fountain...
40 Bld d’Alsace - 06400 CANNES - Tel: +33 (0)4 92 59 41 00 - Fax: +33 (0)4 92 99 20 99
E-mail:
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(Contact : Fabienne Tarry)
FRANCERAILPASS ADVANTAGE: Offer for cardholders
25% off the published room price and breakfast
2) Hôtel Renoir 4*
A charming Boutique Hotel, entirely renovated in 2006, and perfectly located: less than 5 minutes on foot from the Festival Hall, the beaches and the shops on Rue d’Antibes. This "Belle Époque" building dating from the beginning of last century now comprises 26 spacious bedrooms and suites (from 35 to 50m²), some with a sea view. All have been renovated to capture Hollywood in the '50s: white leather on the walls with a trompe-l'oeil damask effect in parts, carpets and curtains in shades of beige and white, and period furniture updated with inlaid mirror and gold and silver leaf.
7 rue Edith Cavell – 06400 CANNES - Tel: +33 (0)4 92 99 62 62 - Fax: +33 (0)4 92 99 62 82
E-mail:
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(Contact : Fabienne Tarry)
FRANCERAILPASS ADVANTAGE: Offer for cardholders
25% off the published room price and breakfast
3) Villa Tosca 3*
La Villa Tosca is ideally located on a quiet and partially pedestrian street in the centre of Cannes. You will be enchanted by the charming atmosphere in this 3-star hotel. It features 22 rooms and a big lounge that is elegant, welcoming and conducive to relaxation. To ensure your stay is comfortable, our rooms have air-conditioning, a mini-bar, safe, satellite TV and Canal+, and telephone and Wi-Fi internet access. All of the bathrooms are contemporary in design and equipped with a hair-dryer.
11, rue Hoche - 06400 CANNES - Tel: +33 (0)4 93 38 34 40 - Fax: +33 (0)4 93 38 73 34
Website: www.villa-tosca.com - E-mail:
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(Contact : Stéphane Angenost)
FRANCERAILPASS ADVANTAGE: Offer for cardholders
15% off the price of the room plus upgrade if available, excluding during congresses and the film festival.
4) Trans Côte d’Azur
The boat company Trans Côte d’Azur runs excursions out to sea departing from Nice and Cannes. Explore the French Riviera from the sea, on modern, spacious and comfortable boats.
Compagnie Trans Côte d’Azur - Quai Laubeuf (opposite the SOFITEL) - 06400 CANNES
Website: www.trans-cote-azur.com - E-mail:
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Phone: +33 (0)4.92.98.71.30. (Contact : Cécile Arnal)
FRANCERAILPASS ADVANTAGE: Offer for cardholders
Crossing from Cannes to Ile Sainte Marguerite.
Departures every day, all year round.
1 free adult ticket for each adult ticket purchased.
5) Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes
Cannes' Festival Hall hosts an eclectic programme ranging from theatre to dance, from circus to opera, and from music to comedy: a thrilling cocktail of shows for the whole family, from major stars to more cutting-edge forms of the creative arts.
BILLETTERIE DU PALAIS DES FESTIVALS & DES CONGRES
B.P. 272 - 06403 CANNES CEDEX - Tel: +33 (0)4 92 99 84 81 - Fax: +33 (0)4 92 99 84 51
From Monday to Saturday, 10am to 7pm
www.palaisdesfestivals.com
FRANCERAILPASS ADVANTAGE: Offer for cardholders
"France Rail Pass" cardholders benefit from a reduction of approximately 15% on all the events we organise. Reductions are granted exclusively when presenting the Pass at the Festival Hall ticket office.
6) Hôtel Cannes Riviera 3*
A stone's throw from the beaches, the Festival Hall and the Rue d'Antibes, the Cannes Riviera Hotel offers a high level of service, a charming Provençal atmosphere and the comfort of a family home. The hotel has a rooftop swimming pool offering a panoramic view of the town. The lounge bar is open 24 hours a day, and the landscaped terrace is perfect for enjoying our buffet breakfast.
16, boulevard d'Alsace, 06400 CANNES
Website: www.cannesriviera.com - Tel: +33 (0)4 97 06 20 40 (Contact : Jeanine FURFARO)
FRANCERAILPASS ADVANTAGE: Offer for cardholders
15% off the cost of the room Free breakfast Glass of champagne
7) Hotel Canberra 4*
Standing at the very heart of Cannes, the Canberra Hotel is a true star in a town devoted to the 7th art. The hotel's subtle décor takes its inspiration from the glamour of the '50s; its 30 rooms and 5 suites adopt contrasting tones. The bistro-bar and the restaurant open onto a vast patio and an elegant terrace, where bamboo plants edge the swimming pool. Top-class facilities, a privileged location and modern luxury will turn your stay into a prestigious experience.
120 rue d’Antibes - 06400 Cannes - Tel: +33 (0) 4 97 06 95 00 - Fax: +33 (0) 4 92 98 03 47 (Contact : Ms. Gaëlle SOKOLIK)
E-mail:
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- Website: www.hotels-ocre-azur.com
FRANCERAILPASS ADVANTAGE: Offer for cardholders
From 1 October 2009 to 31 October 2010, present your France RAIL PASS and benefit from a 15% reduction on the room price, depending on availability, plus one welcome drink per person on the day of arrival.
8) All Suites Residence Home Business
The Home Business "All Suites" residence is ideally located just 100 metres from the Croisette and a stone's throw from Rue d’Antibes. It comprises 110 air-conditioned suites and apartments of excellent quality, ranging from 25 to 100m², available on a hotel formula or as holiday rentals. Some have spacious fitted balconies with a view of one of the residence's pools. Two outdoor pools, landscaped in a verdant setting. Indoor and outdoor bars. Well-being centre. The reception, bar and breakfast room were completely renovated over the winter.
12, rue Latour Maubourg - 06400 CANNES - Tel: +33.4.93.94.90.00 (Contact : Anne GENIN)
Website: www.homebusiness.fr - E-mail:
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FRANCERAILPASS ADVANTAGE: Offer for cardholders
10% reduction on cost of accommodation all year round.
VIP welcome and welcome gift.
1 free entrance to fitness centre per person per stay.
9) Le Mistral 2*
Ideally located 1 minute by foot from the Festival Hall, the Rue d'Antibes, the shops and the beaches, the Mistral is a choice spot for events and for relaxation. Our 10 rooms are all air-conditioned and sound-proofed. Decorated in a contemporary, designer style, they are arranged on four storeys and are all equipped with shower, hair-dryer, safe, flat-screen cable TV, free Wi-Fi access and a direct phone line.
13 Rue des Belges - 06400 CANNES - Tel.: +33 (0)4 93 39 91 46 - Fax: +33 (0)4 93 38 35 17 (Contact : Laurence LAUSA)
Website: www.mistral-hotel.com
FRANCERAILPASS ADVANTAGE: Offer for cardholders
A welcome drink (coca cola, iced tea, coffee, tea, flat or sparkling water), plus free breakfast. Out of congress periods only.
10) Festival Hall/Tourism Office Boutique
All year round, Cannes' official Boutique offers a wide range of souvenirs ("Cannes Film Festival").
The shop is located in the Tourist Information Office at the Festival Hall.
You can phone the shop on: +33 (0)9 61 56 56 82 (Contact : Benoit GAZEL)
E-mail:
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FRANCERAILPASS ADVANTAGE: Offer for cardholders
10% reduction when spending €50 or over.
HERITAGE
Architecturally remarkable public buildings and religious monuments trace out different periods of Cannes' historical past. Villas and huge residences, some examples of which are mentioned here, hark back to the 19th-century heyday of holidaying foreigners. Most have since been converted into apartments, nestling in grounds closed off to the public.
Musée de la Castre
Located in the heights of Old Cannes, the medieval château thrones over the Croisette, the bay and the Lérins Islands. It was constructed towards the end of the 11th century to defend the burgeoning town. Dungeon tower; Sainte-Anne's Chapel (Romanesque style); and water tanks. The Musée de la Castre is inside the château. It showcases art from Oceania, the Americas and the Himalayas, Mediterranean antiquities, Oriental and Provençal paintings, and an outstanding collection of musical instruments from all over the world. Musée de la Mer.
Out at sea, opposite Cannes, on the nearer of the two Lérins Islands, a Fortress towers over the water. Constructed in the 17th and 18th centuries on the edge of a forest of pine and eucalyptus trees, it was used as a state prison then, after the French Revolution, as a military prison. The Museum of the Sea occupies the main building of the fortress. It harbours Roman water tanks, the cell of the Man in the Iron mask, a Huguenot memorial, and collections of terrestrial and underwater archaeology (Roman and Saracen wrecks). It also hosts temporary exhibitions.
La Malmaison
La Malmaison was originally built as a gaming room and tearoom, housed in a pavilion adjoining the Grand Hôtel. Construction of the ensemble commenced in 1863 under the direction of architects Vianey and Blondel. The Grand Hôtel was inhabited until the end of the 1950s, when it was demolished and then reconstructed in 1963. La Malmaison is the only original part to have survived. The Town of Cannes organises temporary exhibitions here, paying tribute to renowned artists.
Villa Domergue and gardens
This residence and its gardens were designed by artist Jean-Gabriel Domergue, who drew inspiration from Venetian palaces. The artist's finest paintings adorn the walls of the villa. Magnificent sculptures by his wife embellish the gardens, which are of Florentine inspiration. The villa was inaugurated in 1936.
GUIDED TOURS
LOCATED IN CANNES OR WITHIN 20 MINUTES OF CANNES
1) Cannes
Take a closer look at the abundance of culture, events and architecture in Cannes as you enjoy an amazing 2-hour walk between Le Suquet and the Festival Hall. The itinerary will take you to some of the most beautiful viewpoints in town.
- Tours of the Festival Hall for the Public in 2009. Information: +33 (0)4 92 99 84 22
- Guided tour – See Cannes from another angle 2009. Information: +33 (0)4 92 99 84 22
- Cannes Cinema Tour Information: +33 (0)4 93 38 39 18
- Cinema Silhouette Circuit Information: +33 (0)4 92 99 84 22
2) The Lerins Islands
A short boat ride from La Croisette and the Bay of Cannes, the Lérins Islands are a welcoming sight. In an idyllic setting where nature is intact, these beauty spots on the skin of the Mediterranean offer visitors a unique combination of flora, fauna and unusual historical anecdotes, blending the mysteries of the Man in the Iron Mask with the tranquil existence of Cistercian monks. There is so much to explore and the boat is already waiting. All aboard!
3) Mouans-Sartoux, Mougins, Grasse, Gourdon
The town of Mouans-Sartoux stands out mainly for its château, constructed at the end of the 15th century. Home to the "Espace de l’Art Concret", it has now become a permanent and internationally renowned centre for contemporary art. Mougins is a small village of artists and craftsmen, also famous for its restaurants and gastronomy. Discover superb stone houses at the heart of a village whose charm cannot be denied. The town of Grasse is the world capital of perfume and reputed for its famous perfumeries: Fragonard, Galimard, Molinard (free guided tours). Explore the medieval Old Town and the entirely renovated perfume museum. Gourdon is a perched village offering 80km of breathtaking panoramas stretching from Nice to Théoule. It is an ideal spot for nature lovers, who will enjoy walks through the Loup Gorge and exploring its rich natural heritage. Information: +33 (0)4 92 99 84 22
4) Vallauris & Antibes old town
Vallauris is a town of artists. Pottery first appeared there in 1501, rapidly developing to become the main activity in the town. Since Picasso's spell there, from 1948 to 1955, other forms of art, such as ceramics and linocut, have also been adopted. The town boasts a large number of art studios and galleries, not to mention the Picasso "War and Peace" museum. Old Antibes is home to one of the main museums in the Alpes-Maritimes: the Picasso Museum, inside Château Grimaldi. Stroll through the Old Town's narrow streets to soak up its typical Provençal charm and admire the ramparts, not to mention the cathedral.
Information: +33 (0)4 92 99 84 22
5) Saint-Paul de Vence, Vence
Utrillo, Derain, Soutine, Signac, Modigliani and Matisse were all bewitched by the beauty of Saint-Paul's landscapes and the quality of the light, capturing them on their easels and attracting other artists, writers and stars from show biz. In the space of a few decades, Saint-Paul became an artists' Mecca. The village is a veritable "living museum" with no entry charge! It is also home to the Fondation Marguerite & Aimé Maeght, a unique venue dedicated to art. Artists moved into nearby Vence, marking a period of renewal for the town. In its walled Old Town, Vence has preserved amazing souvenirs from a very rich history: Roman vestiges, ramparts, watchtowers, the remains of the Bishops' Palace, the château of the Lords of Villeneuve, squares, fountains and the treasures in its cathedral.
Information: +33 (0)4 92 99 84 22
6) Biot
Biot is a delightful village just a few kilometres from the sea, perched on top of a hill against a perpetual backdrop of flowers. Biot became famous all over the world for its ceramics and bubbled blown glass. It boasts 8 glass studios, a nature museum devoted to glass, an international glass gallery, countless art galleries (paintings, glass, sculptures), a pottery (employing traditional Provençal techniques), ceramists, silversmiths and mosaicists.
Information: +33 (0)4 92 99 84 22
GUIDED TOURS -
LOCATED MORE THAN 20 MINUTES FROM CANNES
1) Caves at St-Cezaire & St-Vallier-de-Thiey
Embark on an adventure in caves above Grasse, not far from Cannes, and explore this original and fun natural setting. Information: +33 (0)4 92 99 84 22
2) Èze, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin
The old village of Èze is an eagle's nest perched at 429 metres above sea-level. The village's tiny streets thread their way below the ruins of a medieval château. Many artists and craftsmen today occupy the cellars and ground floors that once were stables or sheepfolds. A fortified double gate dating from the 14th century marks the entrance to the old village. The very pretty small town of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin can be seen as a bridge between Monaco and Menton. The old part of the village, wrapped around its fortress up above, is a glorious tangle of narrow alleys, covered streets, stairways, narrow passages, fountains and niches. Information: +33 (0)4 92 99 84 22
3) Monaco, Menton
Monaco has always been a particularly popular tourist destination thanks to its Mediterranean climate and its many luxury hotels. Each year, it hosts the Formula 1 Grand Prix, a leading event on the French Riviera. There is also the old part of Monaco, with its cathedral and hanging gardens, not to mention the famous oceanographic museum. A few kilometres from Monaco, on the Italian border, stands Menton, a harmonious blend of nature and culture. The town of gardens and lemons is also a town of art and history; Menton is proud of its outstanding natural and historical heritage. From the cliff roads overhanging the town, one can admire the picture postcard scene of a seaside town bathed in warm sunshine all year round.
Information: +33 (0)4 92 99 84 22
4) Saint-Tropez
Saint-Tropez grew around its 15th-century citadel to become a small fishing village by the beginning of the 20th century. It was the first town to be liberated during the Landing in Provence and became an internationally recognised seaside resort as early as the 1950s, thanks to the enthusiasm of New Wave artists. It thrived with the '60s scene, eventually becoming a holiday destination for the European and American jet sets and for tourists in search of Provençal authenticity... or celebrities!
Information: +33 (0)4 92 99 84 22
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