One of the most popular resorts on the Côte d'Azur, the city of Cannes dates back to 42 BC, when the Romans founded a settlement here called Egitna. Its inhabitants were fishermen and led a calm, uncomplicated existence until the city became the arena of fierce battles and turned in the 11th century into an impregnable fortress built by monks. After 800 years, the mild climate and the proximity of the sea attracted the English, and then the Russian aristocracy to the Cote d'Azur, which began to build villas and travel to Cannes on vacation. In its lifetime, the city has seen many royal persons, and even on its coat of arms there are two royal lilies. Going on vacation to the Cote d'Azur, be sure that your vacation will be interesting and eventful, because there is something to see here. Medieval sights and old quarters have been preserved in Cannes, and local museums will gladly tell guests the centuries-old history of the city, called the symbol of southern France.
TOP 10 attractions in Cannes
Suquet quarter
The old part of Cannes is full of charm and French charm. The Suquet quarter at the foot of the Chevalier hill is perfect for leisurely walks and acquaintance with the history of the city. Narrow streets will lead you to the fortress and observation tower, from where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Mediterranean Sea.
In the Suquet quarter, you will find several famous Cannes attractions:
- The observation tower was built in the XI-XII centuries.
- The Gothic temple, dating from the 16th-17th centuries, is famous for its classical music festivals.
- The Castres Museum invites you to explore the collection of exhibits that tell about the ancient history of Cannes. The exposition is housed in a castle that appeared on Mount Chevalier in the Middle Ages.
The view of the Cote d'Azur and the Mediterranean Sea from the hill and observation deck is another city attraction. Red tiled roofs, emerald green of parks and turquoise to the horizon - the Cannes landscape is better than any advertising brochure campaigning for a vacation on the French Riviera.
Promenade Croisette
Promenade de la Croisette is the famous promenade of Europe, stretching along the Mediterranean Sea in Cannes. In 1865, the city council decided to improve the coastal strip so that the aristocracy could walk along the sea with comfort and desire. This is how the Croisette, which was originally called the Boulevard of the Empress, appeared.
The street begins at the old port of Cannes and continues to the Cape of Palm Beach. Its length is 2, 8 km. The boulevard received its modern name thanks to the cross installed for the pilgrims who came to Lerins Abbey.
At the Promenade de la Croisette you can sit in a cafe and have a cup of coffee overlooking the sea. Or buy a handbag from the latest collection of any famous fashion house. On the boulevard, hotels of world chains have been built, where movie stars stay during the Cannes Film Festival.
Lerins abbey
The history of the Catholic monastery, called Lerins Abbey, began in 410. It was founded by Saint Honorat, and the monastery is rightfully considered one of the most ancient in Europe. In the Middle Ages, a fort was built next to the monastery to protect against attack from the sea, and seven chapels. Within the walls of the fortress there was a library, a chapel, living quarters and a refectory. At the end of the 18th century, the monastery was closed, and the relics of Saint Honorat were transferred to the cathedral in Grasse. Monastic life was revived only in 1859, when monks of the Cistercian order came to the abbey.
The abbey is located on the island of Saint-Honor, which is part of the Lérins archipelago. The islands have ferry connections to the city. Ships leave from the old port at the beginning of the Croisette.
Musée de la Castre
At the top of the Chevalier hill in Cannes, a museum is open, where you can see exhibits that tell the history of the Mediterranean and other regions of the world. The collections are located in an old castle, built in the 16th century and restored by the city municipality.
The beginning of the museum exposition was laid by Baron Liklama, who in 1877 offered the city his collections of antiques collected in the Middle East, Central Asia, Egypt and Provence. Today the Castres Museum has tens of thousands of exhibits of world cultural value. In 1920, the exhibition moved from the town hall to the castle. The current collection offers visitors four permanent sections:
- Primitive art that existed in the Himalayas, the Arctic, pre-Columbian America and Oceania.
- Ancient civilizations of Egypt, the Middle East, Cyprus, Rome and Greece.
- Landscape painting by Provence masters from 1830 to the advent of Post-Impressionism.
- A collection of musical instruments from all over the world.
From the inner courtyard of the museum, you can climb to the Tour de Suquet observation deck. To do this, you will have to overcome 119 steps, but the views from the tower are worth the effort.
Saint-Marguerite
If you've heard of the Iron Mask, you'll love the Sainte-Marguerite Island tour. It is located just a kilometer from the coast of Cannes and its main attraction is Fort Royal. In the dungeon of this prison in the 17th century, there was a mysterious prisoner in a velvet mask, which was turned into an iron mask in legends.
Fort Royal was built in the first half of the 17th century. He received the status of a state prison, in whose cells, in addition to the Iron Mask, many prisoners known to the world languished.
During a tour of the island, tourists can not only see the former prison cells, but also walk through the pine and eucalyptus forest, rent a pleasure boat, get acquainted with the exposition of the Maritime Museum and dine at one of the coastal restaurants.
Notre-Dame de l'Esperance
The construction of the Church of Our Lady of Hope in Cannes began in 1521. The works stretched out for almost a century due to the plague epidemic, and the temple was consecrated only at the beginning of the 17th century. As a result, the building acquired the features of several architectural styles at once - Gothic, Romanesque and Late Renaissance.
The light brown stone and rectangular bell tower give the temple a stern and restrained look. The interiors are also not pretentious, and the modest interior is decorated only with frescoes by Georges Roux and gold-plated statues of Our Lady of Hope and St. Anne.
Every summer, a music festival is held on the porch of the temple and classical pieces are performed outdoors in the evenings.
Palace of Festivals and Congresses
The first Cannes Film Festival was held on the Côte d'Azur in 1946, and three years later, a palace was built for the rapidly growing film forum in Cannes. He appeared on the Croisette on the site of the former building of the navigation circle.
The growing popularity of the event soon forced its organizers to think about a new project. The former Palace of Festivals could no longer accommodate everyone who wanted to take part in the film festival. In 1979, a decision was made to build a new palace, and in 1982 it opened its doors to the guests and participants of the next film forum.
The modern Palais des Festivals et des Congrès is a famous landmark in Cannes. Every year, at the end of spring, it receives world-class film stars and everyone who wants to touch the miracle that the legendary Lumière brothers first revealed to the world in 1985.
Temple of the Archangel Michael
Until 1886, there was no Orthodox church in Cannes, and Russian emigrants and the aristocracy who came to rest had to get to the service at the Church of Saints Nicholas and Alexandra in Nice. The need for its own Orthodox parish prompted the Russian community to begin construction, and soon a house church appeared at A. F. Skripitsyna. A few years later, she also offered a plot of land for the construction of a larger temple, and in 1894 the parish opened. The boulevard on which the church was built was renamed in honor of Emperor Alexander III.
Among the relics of the church there is an ark with the relics of John of Kronstadt and Seraphim of Sarov. Members of the imperial family made significant donations to the temple: ancient icons of the Mother of God and the Savior, sacred vessels, the Gospel and the altar cross.
In 1921, in the Church of the Archangel Michael, residents of Cannes were able to watch the wedding of Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich with Matilda Kshesinskaya.
Church of Our Lady of Good Voyage
The Catholic temple, whose name will surely appeal to any traveler, is located near the Croisette, the Palais des Festivals and other city attractions. The Church of Our Lady of Bon Voyage was built on the site of an old 17th century chapel near the dunes and the port where fishing schooners moored. Sailors and fishermen sought protection from the Mother of God, and the temple became a place where one could pray for a successful outcome not only of navigation, but also of any journey.
The Romanesque building with Gothic elements was designed by the architect Laurent Viani and consecrated in 1879. Its interior is decorated with magnificent stained-glass windows, through the colored glass of which the temple is filled with light.
It was in this church that Emperor Napoleon, who returned from the island of Elba, knelt on the night of August 1-2, 1815.
Casino Barrière Les Princes
Have you decided to try your luck and try to win some money for a carefree vacation in Cannes? You don't have to go to Monte Carlo to do this, because there is a private casino on Boulevard Croisette, where one-armed bandits, green cloth for playing poker, and roulette are at the service of everyone.
Don't forget your evening dress and tuxedo! Although modern customs allow for a more relaxed dress code, playing on the Côte d'Azur is a tradition. And bring your passport if you look too young. Persons under 18 years of age are not allowed to enter the gaming halls.
