Informations on Cannes

About Cannes

Cannes (IPA: [kan]) is a city in the French department of Alpes-Maritimes in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Located in Southern Europe at the south eastern extremity of France, Cannes is a privileged crossroads between the Alps, Provence, Monaco and Italy.

Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, famous for the glitzy hotels, cars, beaches, and visitors. Cannes has become one of the busiest tourist destinations among jet-setters and famous celebrities as the city hosts many significant events including the annual Cannes Film Festival. Its old town, Le Suquet, is also a great spot for remarkable panoramic scenery.

History of Cannes

The city of Cannes is perhaps most famous for its annual film festival; however, it was the centre of significant activity long before the festival was first celebrated and has a long and interesting history dating back thousands of years. Today, its atmosphere of vibrancy and cultural richness is fortified by its proud heritage.

Evidence suggests that civilisations inhabited the area we now know as Cannes as early as the 2nd century BC. It's believed that the Oxybian tribe from Liguria formed various settlements here, which were known as Aegitna. Historians are unsure of the meaning of this name, but what is known is that initially the area was little more than a simple fishing village used as a port of call between the Lérins Islands.

Life in Aegitna was fairly uneventful until 69 AD, when it became the scene of a violent conflict between the troops of Othos and Vitellius. This marked a significant period of unrest in the area.

The first record of the name was in the 10th century, when the town was known as Canua. The name might derive from "canna", a reed. Canua was probably the site of a small Ligurian port, and later a Roman outpost on Le Suquet hill, suggested by the fact that Roman tombs were discovered here. Le Suquet housed an 11th-century lookout tower, and overlooked swamps where the city now stands. Most of the ancient activity, especially for protection, was on the Lérin Islands just off the coast, and the history of Cannes is really the history of the islands.

An attack by the Saracens in 891, who remained until the end of the 10th century, devastated the country around Canua. The insecurity of the Lérin islands forced the monks to settle on the mainland of France, at the Suquet. Construction of a castle in 1035 fortified the city by then known as Cannes, and at the end of the 11th century construction was started on two towers on the Lérin Islands. One took a century to build, the other three.

Around 1530, Cannes detached from the monks who had controlled the city for hundreds of years, and became independent.

During the 18th century, the Spanish and English both tried to gain control of the Lérin islands, but were chased away by the stalwart French defenders. The islands were later controlled by many different Frenchmen, such as Jean-Honoré Alziary, and the Bishop of Fréjus. Later in history the islands were used for many different purposes; one example of this is that around the end of the 19th century, one island was used as a hospital for injured soldiers in the Crimean War.

In June 1838, the construction for a harbor in Cannes was begun; this sparked new life in the community, and the population rose significantly. In March 1898 the harbor was completed, and the Casino Municipal and the Esplanade des Alliés are built next to it, one on each side.

Cannes lives from its seatrade, the fishing, agriculture and small and medium enterprises ; but Lord Henry Brougham and Vaux discovered other treasures, far more beneficial for the development of the city. He bought land at the Croix des Gardes and constructed there the villa "Eleonore-Louise". His work to improve the living conditions of the city attracted the attention of English aristocracy, who liked to build winter residences there.

At the end of the 19th century, construction on several railways was completed, improving the crossing of the departments of the Var and Alpes-Maritimes. This prompted the arrival of streetcars. In Cannes, projects such as the Boulevard Carnot, the rue d'Antibes and the famous Carlton Hotel on the Croisette were carried out. After the closure of the Casino des Fleurs (hôtel Gallia), a luxury establishment is built for the rich winter clientèle; the Casino Municipal is built next to the pier Albert-Edouard. This casino was demolished and replaced by the new Palace in 1979. These establishments are in the center of the mundane evenings in Cannes, in which many of the most prestigious events take place.

With the beginning of the 20th century came new luxury dream hotels such as the Miramar and the Martinez. The city was significantly modernized with the construction of the sports centre, the installation of the street car, the opening of the post office, and the appearance of educational establishments. All these projects were completed after the Great War, which effectively turned Cannes into a hospital for French soldiers. The projects were then requested.

After the war, the German and English clientèle of Cannes was diminished, whereas the American clientèle increased. Little by little, the winter tourism is giving way to the summer tourism, so the summer casino at the Palm Beach is constructed.

The city council had the idea of holding an International Film Festival, shortly before World War 2. The project was delayed due to the war, and was first held in 1946. On September 20th, 1946 was the inauguration of the 1st International Film Festival, which was held in the Casino Municipal and was extremely popular. In 2008 is to be held the 68th International Cannes Film Festival. The city of Cannes is known for many things, but none so much as the Film Festival, which is the second most recognized worldwide event, after the Olympic Games.

Cannes Weather

The climate in Cannes is typically Mediterranean and the city enjoys a good 12 hours of sunshine per day during the summer season (May to September), while in winter (December to February), the weather is very mild. Both seasons see a relatively low level of rainfall and the most significant period of rain is during October and November, when an average of 110 millimetres is the norm.

Cannes summers are long and hot, with summer daytime temperatures regularly hitting 40°C, while average temperatures are about 25°C. Temperatures remain high from June to September, which is also the busiest time, particularly so in July and August. This is also the time of year when there is the least amount of rainfall and despite the hot daytime temperatures, welcome Mediterranean breezes keep summer evenings.

As the temperatures drop below 10ºC for only three months of the year (December to February), anytime is a good time to visit Cannes although the summer season is recommended, when temperatures are at their highest but are far from being uncomfortable and are ideal for either a beach or sightseeing holiday. The spring and autumn seasons are also warm enough, although more suited to those who prefer slightly cooler weather. Winters are great if you are fed up of the rain, snow and sub-zero temperatures in the UK or other cool European countries.

Cityscape

The first place to visit is La Croisette, the beautiful waterfront avenue with gorgeous palm trees offering a relaxing promenade. La Croisette is very famous for its picturesque beaches where you can find many first-class resorts, restaurants, hip cafés and an array of brand name boutiques. La Suquet, the old town of Cannes, provides the breathtaking view of La Croisette. Visitors can see the remains of the fortified tower and the fascinating Chapel of St Anne housing the Musée de la Castre. In which are displayed many items from artworks, musical instruments, sculptures, decorative arts to a section on ethnography. Some nice public beaches can also be found in this area. For chilling atmosphere stroll to Îles de Lérins where the unlucky man immortalised in The Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned. This is only a short boat ride offshore.

For visitors with cultural inclinations, Cannes has an impressive selection of museums and art galleries covering a wide variety of themes and historical periods. The Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Provence, for example, is home to a collection of artefacts that range from prehistoric to present times, and the museum is housed in a classic 18th century mansion, set amid beautiful French gardens. Meanwhile, at the Musée de la Castre, an exotic collection including objects from the Pacific Atolls, Peruvian relics and Mayan pottery is available for viewing in an impressive château, which was previously known as the Castle of Cannes. Other famous venues include the Musée de la Marine, Musée de la Mer, Musée de la Photographie and Musée International de la Parfumerie.

At Phoenix Park, otherwise known as the Phoenix Botanical Gardens, visitors will find stunningly beautiful gardens that have been lovingly tended and are home to a large selection of plants and flowers, many of which are exotic in origin. A greenhouse, hailed as the largest in Europe, also houses a large collection of interesting and unusual plant specimens.

Galimard is a working perfumery offering visitors tours on which they can get an in-depth insight into the country's multimillion-dollar industry. Tours take in laboratories where scents are mixed and visitors get to find out some of the elusive ingredients used in perfume making. There's also the opportunity to create your own scent under the guidance of a master perfumier.

Take a boat tour on the sea with Compagnie Maritime Cannoise and get the chance to visit the famous Lerins Islands plus a variety of other destinations worthy of note such as Monaco and St Tropez. A submarine trip is also available to give visitors the chance to see some of the local sea life.

This popular attraction was originally presented as a traditional zoo facility, but has now been redeveloped as a safari park in which visitors can drive around in their cars. The zoo has attempted to recreate the natural habitats of its animal residents in order to encourage them to reproduce and live as they would in the wild.

Nineteenth-century Cannes can still be seen in its grand villas, built to reflect the wealth and social standing of their owners and inspired by anything from medieval castles to Roman villas. Lord Brougham's Italianate Villa Eléonore Louise (one of the first great villas in Cannes) was built between 1835 and 1839. Also known as the Quartier des Anglais, this is the oldest residential area in Cannes and perfect for a stroll. Another famous landmark is the beautiful Villa Fiésole (known today as the Villa Domergue) designed by Jean-Gabriel Domergue in the style of Fiesole, near Florence. The villas are not open to the public. However, Villa Domergue may be visited on appointment.

It only takes a 15-minute boat ride from Cannes to get there but it took The Man in the Iron Mask 11 years to leave this tiny, forested island. The mysterious individual was believed to be of noble blood, but his identity has never been proven. His cell can be visited in the Fort of St Marguerite, now renamed the Musée de la Mer (Museum of the Sea). This museum also houses archaeological discoveries from shipwrecks off the coast of the island, including Roman (first century BC) and Saracen (10th century AD) ceramics. There is a regular boat service from the mainland. Guided tours in English are available in summer.

Cistercian monks are the only inhabitants of the smaller, southern St Honorat Island. Monks have inhabited the island more or less continuously since AD410 and, at the height of their powers, owned Cannes, Mougins and Vallauris. Medieval vestiges remain in the stark church, which is open to the public, and in the ruins of the 11th-century monastery on the sea's edge. The monks divide their time between prayer and producing red and white wines La Vendange des Moines, Lérina liqueur, honey, lavender oil and the very successful Marc Blanc. In summer, when tourist numbers increase, the monks retire to their cloistered monastery, the Abbey of Lérins. Although closed to the general public, the monastery welcomes guests for week-long retreats. The Cistercian monks who inhabit St Honorat run the only boat trips to the island. Boats depart from Cannes' main port at the jetée Edouard.

Culture

If you visit Cannes at the right time of the year, you can take advantage of the city's varied selection of cultural events, with the International Film Festival perhaps being the most famous. When the calendar has a blank spot, visitors will find plenty of static attractions to keep them occupied, with historical and natural sights topping the bill. The beach is of course the most popular attraction for many and Cannes' golden sands are a great place to spend lazy summer days, while the blue ocean waters offer plenty of opportunities to get active.

Cannes has night venues of every description and the city is a veritable hotbed of activity after the sun's gone down. Casinos are a highly popular aspect of the city's evening entertainment scene and are full seven days a week with addicts, hopefuls and those doing a little controlled dabbling in the gambling scene. The most famous casinos in the city include Casino Croisette at the Palais des Festivals; Palm Beach Casino at Pointe de la Croisette; and Casino des Princes on boulevard de la Croisette. If a more traditional night out is your thing then you'll find plenty of good bars across the city with boulevard de la Croisette being a good place to head if you want to be guaranteed of finding a busy venue. Nightclubs appealing to all tastes can be found in the city centre and the gay scene is especially happening and popular. Most bars stay open until early morning, while nightclubs can still be busy well into dawn.

Despite its associations with cultural and film-based events, Cannes is not renowned for its traditional theatre venues and visitors expecting to catch a little Shakespeare or Andrew Lloyd Weber may be disappointed. There are a number of small venues however, which besides staging regular productions, play host to short sketches during the annual International Actors' Performance Festival. Popular theatres include the Espace Miramar and the Alexandre III. For live music, the city has a varied scene, with everything from classical to rock and pop venues.

The Cannes Film Festival (French: le Festival international du film de Cannes or simply le Festival de Cannes), founded in 1939, is considered one of the world's most prestigious film festivals and is a part of the history of Cannes. It is the highlight of the city's event calendar and is a two-week long event that sees the city descended upon by major Hollywood actors and directors as well as a large number of independent film makers. Movies are screened throughout the period.

In May 2006, Hollywood Reporter acknowledged that Cannes is the "granddaddy of all film festivals". The private festival is held annually; usually in the month of May.

France has a reputation for excellence in its cuisine and Cannes is no exception, with restaurants across the city serving up some of the finest examples of the country's most popular dishes. With its coastal location, cuisine in Cannes is naturally based quite significantly around seafood and delectable dishes worth trying include escalope de mérou au citron, which is escalope of sea bass in lime; salmon tournedos with truffles; cod and vegetables in garlic sauce; and skate with capers. Meat dishes on some of the best menus in town include estouffade de sanglier (wild boar) and fillet de beef rossini cooked with foie gras. However, this is but a small selection of a huge number of quality French dishes that are available across the city in both upmarket and small traditional venues. Meal prices vary massively depending on where you go, but mid-price establishments are comparable to UK restaurants; the sky's the limit however and you can easily pay a hundred euros for a gourmet meal here.

The best known festival of Cannes is the Cannes Film Festival, which takes over the city every May. Tickets to shows are via invite only, but feel free to star watch along the boulevards. There are many other Cannes events to check out. At any time of year visit the Allee des Etoiles (stars' walk) where 300 stars have placed autographed imprints of their hands. Two of the best Cannes events occur in July, as Fireworks explode over the bay on the 4th for America's independence day, and again on the 14th for France. Also in July is Les Nuits Musicales du Suquet, a festival of music performances.

Economy

The area around Cannes has developed into a high-tech cluster. The technopolis of Sophia Antipolis lies up in the hills beyond Cannes. The Cannes Film Festival, held annually in May, is a major event for the world film industry and played a part of the history of Cannes.

There is an annual television festival, airing in the last week in September, also the Mipim is a major commercial real estate exhibition, taking place in March and other major festivals are Mapic, Lions, Mipcom and TFWA.

The economic environment in Cannes is rich in diversity and dynamism. It is based mainly in activities related to tourism (business fairs), trade and aviation. Cannes, to date over 6500 companies, of which about 3000 are traders, artisans and service providers. In 2006, 421 new companies were registered in the register society of commerce of Cannes 336 craft businesses (including 98 in Cannes La Bocca) were included in the directory trades.

Cannes hostes the Cannes Mandelieu Space Center, belonging to, and the headquarter of, Thales Alenia Space, the first European satellites manufacturer.

Transportation

Located 15 miles from Cannes, Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is a busy airport that sees a passenger throughput of close to 10 million per year. The airport operates two terminals, with Terminal 1 capable of serving 4.5 million passengers per year and Terminal 2 capable of managing 8.5 million passengers a year. ATMs, banks, bureau de change and post office facilities are all on hand at the airport as well as excellent shopping and dining options. Delta Airlines provides transatlantic connections to the US, while British Airways, Bmi and easyJet among others provide connections with the UK. A large number of other carriers serve various EU countries. The highest number of private jets in the world in fact land at this airport.

From Paris, the journey takes about 8 hours and access is available via the A8 Estérel motorway, which leads directly to the city of Cannes; from Monaco and Nice, the same road provides access from the opposite direction. The road network is exceedingly well designed and drivers should face very little difficulty in negotiating the route.

France's TGV rail services provides access to the city of Cannes from a large number of major French cities. From London St. Pancras International Station the Eurostar connects with Lille, from where a connecting service to Cannes is available. The journey from London to Lille is just 1 hour, 25 minutes, while from Lille to Cannes, it's 7 hours. Other European cities with rail connections to Cannes include Brussels (6 hours), Milan (5 hours), Basel (10 hours), Rome (10 hours) and Venice (10 hours).

Coach services from major French and European cities serve the city of Cannes, with the latter concluding at the Gare Routière de Nice station, which is situated just outside of the city. Companies providing services from abroad include Eurolines and Agence Phoceens. Regional services are provided by Rapides Côte d'Azur and CTM, with services available from Nice and Grasse/Mandelieu respectively.

Ferry crossings are available to the Port of Nice from Bastia and Calvi in Corsica, with services provided by SNCM Ferryterranée and Corsica Ferries. From Bastia, the journey time is 4 hours, 45 minutes on conventional speed ferries and 3 hours, 40 minutes on express ferries, while from Calvi, conventional vessels take 3 hours, 45 minutes and express vessels take 2 hours, 45 minutes. An average of four ferries a day sail on these routes, with more crossings during the summer season. Alternatively, if you're feeling like a long drive, you can take the ferry from England to France, with routes including Dover to Calais and Portsmouth to Roscoff, and head south to the Côte d'Azur, but expect the journey to take well over 12 hours.

Twin Cities

The City of Cannes has always attached great importance to the development of a policy of openness and exchanges with other cities with similar as to the geographical location, weather conditions, demographic characteristics, cultural affinities, in economic activities, etc.. The contemporary City of Cannes has twinning with several important cities in the world, such as