Once a fishing village and now world-famous as a glamorous beach resort, a hub for designer shopping and home of the early summer Cannes Film Festival, the town comes even more alive every May with the arrival of most of Hollywood as well as the planet's paparazzi and hordes of spectators. Admittedly, Cannes as a holiday destination is expensive, but it's still the Mediterranean experience of a lifetime, with careful planning and a small dose of self-control making it affordable, fun and fascinating.
The city is much more than the iconic annual film and fashion bash, with a history beginning in Roman times, a Saracen invasion in the ninth century, the re-establishment of the settlement by monks in the 11th century and independence from the religious orders by the 15th century. La Suquet, the old quarter of the city, holds many heritage buildings and charming churches, and is easily reached on foot from Cannes City Centre hotels. The medieval castle atop the district has splendid views from its tower across the cityscape, the ocean and its offshore islands and the surrounding Provencal countryside.
The city's major landmark apart from the Palais des Festivals, home to the May film festival, is La Croisette, the three-kilometre long promenade along the seafront with its famous beaches backed by luxury hotels and exclusive designer boutiques. When Hollywood hits town, the private beaches are crowded with California girls and the like in the skimpiest bikinis, with the bravest baring it all a little farther along the shore on the nudist beach, with people-watching at this point taking on a whole new dimension!
History buffs will love wandering the Quartier des Anglais with its grand 19th century villas and mansions, built with the express intention of displaying the wealth and prestige of their titled and high-society owners. Constructed in a plethora of fantastic styles including Roman villas and medieval castles, they're not open to the public, but are well-worth seeing. Just below the castle is the 17th century Abbaye Notre Dame d'Esperance, known for its exquisite wood panelling and 19th century art collection, and St Michel Archangel Church is a fine 19th century example of Russian Orthodox religious architecture. Le Grand Jas Cemetery holds the graves of many well-known Cannes residents, including Louis Pasteur, and examples of fine stonework.
The two offshore Lerins islands, St Marguerite and St Honorat, are easily reached with a boat trip from the port, with their peaceful settings and heritage buildings a favourite for getting away from the bustle of the city. The Abbaye Notre Dame des Lerins on St Honorat dates from the third century AD and is amongst the oldest Christian monasteries in the world, still occupied by a working community of monks who make wine and other products as unique souvenirs of a visit here. Cannes Maritime Museum is set in an ancient fort on St Marguerite, showing artefacts from Roman shipwrecks as well as later wrecks.
The Musee de la Castre is set in the tower of the ancient castle in Le Suquet old quarter, with a variety of exhibits including ceramics, musical instruments and Mediterranean antiques as well as a good exhibition of 19th century Provencal art. Cannes art galleries focus mainly on local artists' work, with the Bellini Chapel Museum, once the home and studio of artist Emmanuel Bellini, offering a fine exhibition of his contemporary paintings. The impressive Galerie de la Malmaison on La Croisette has regular exhibitions of works by contemporary artists, set in a magnificent mansion with sculpture displays in its landscaped gardens.
The city is much more than the iconic annual film and fashion bash, with a history beginning in Roman times, a Saracen invasion in the ninth century, the re-establishment of the settlement by monks in the 11th century and independence from the religious orders by the 15th century. La Suquet, the old quarter of the city, holds many heritage buildings and charming churches, and is easily reached on foot from Cannes City Centre hotels. The medieval castle atop the district has splendid views from its tower across the cityscape, the ocean and its offshore islands and the surrounding Provencal countryside.
The city's major landmark apart from the Palais des Festivals, home to the May film festival, is La Croisette, the three-kilometre long promenade along the seafront with its famous beaches backed by luxury hotels and exclusive designer boutiques. When Hollywood hits town, the private beaches are crowded with California girls and the like in the skimpiest bikinis, with the bravest baring it all a little farther along the shore on the nudist beach, with people-watching at this point taking on a whole new dimension!
History buffs will love wandering the Quartier des Anglais with its grand 19th century villas and mansions, built with the express intention of displaying the wealth and prestige of their titled and high-society owners. Constructed in a plethora of fantastic styles including Roman villas and medieval castles, they're not open to the public, but are well-worth seeing. Just below the castle is the 17th century Abbaye Notre Dame d'Esperance, known for its exquisite wood panelling and 19th century art collection, and St Michel Archangel Church is a fine 19th century example of Russian Orthodox religious architecture. Le Grand Jas Cemetery holds the graves of many well-known Cannes residents, including Louis Pasteur, and examples of fine stonework.
The two offshore Lerins islands, St Marguerite and St Honorat, are easily reached with a boat trip from the port, with their peaceful settings and heritage buildings a favourite for getting away from the bustle of the city. The Abbaye Notre Dame des Lerins on St Honorat dates from the third century AD and is amongst the oldest Christian monasteries in the world, still occupied by a working community of monks who make wine and other products as unique souvenirs of a visit here. Cannes Maritime Museum is set in an ancient fort on St Marguerite, showing artefacts from Roman shipwrecks as well as later wrecks.
The Musee de la Castre is set in the tower of the ancient castle in Le Suquet old quarter, with a variety of exhibits including ceramics, musical instruments and Mediterranean antiques as well as a good exhibition of 19th century Provencal art. Cannes art galleries focus mainly on local artists' work, with the Bellini Chapel Museum, once the home and studio of artist Emmanuel Bellini, offering a fine exhibition of his contemporary paintings. The impressive Galerie de la Malmaison on La Croisette has regular exhibitions of works by contemporary artists, set in a magnificent mansion with sculpture displays in its landscaped gardens.