Cannes
District Guide
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Cannes is quite a small town, but it is a town of many faces. The city center is composed of three very different landscapes – the prestigious seaside promenade, La Croisette, the lively town center overflowing with boutiques, and the picturesque old port and Suquet hill which make up the old town. In the same style as Le Suquet, but 2 miles (4 kilometers) or so north of the town, Le Cannet is a delightful little village of narrow, winding streets and old houses belonging to the town’s suburbs. Bordering the town to the east is La Californie-Super Cannes, a lush, green haven sheltering luxury villas. On the western side, the suburbs engulf Cannes La Bocca and heading south, you’ll reach two green gems afloat in the sea – less than a mile from Cannes’ shores, Iles Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat attract thousands of visitors every year.
La Croisette and La Pointe-Croisette
A visit to Cannes is not complete without a stroll along La Croisette, a splendid promenade that stretches the whole length of Cannes’ coastline. The atmosphere of this fabulous walkway changes with each passing hour. One minute you’ll be surrounded by crowds of tourists, the next you’ll meet a local walking his or her dog, while other times you’ll pass wealthy, elegantly-dressed residents, or even eccentrics and street artists vying for the attention of passers-by… but before 10a, when the town is still quiet, the atmosphere will take you back to the belle époque. Beneath the promenade, many sandy beaches stretch out to sea. Most of them are private, which means you have to pay to gain access, but your money will buy you the comfort of a sun bed, parasol, and drinks at the bar. The commercial side of La Croisette is largely devoted to illustrious fashion boutiques where the big names in haute couture and jewelery (such as Christian Lacroix, Hermès, Chanel, etc.) rub shoulders with the countless sun-drenched café terraces. Also in this area is the Musée de la Malmaison, a former lavish casino and now a museum showing temporary exhibitions of modern art, looking out over the sea. This is also the site of Cannes’ most prestigious and palatial hotels, including the famous: Hôtel Carlton and Hôtel Martinez, home to many film stars during the International Film Festival. During the festival, fans of the silver screen can see the stars and directors making their mark on the famous steps of the Palais des Festivals at the end of La Croisette.
Le Centre-ville (Town Center)
The long shopping street known as Rue d'Antibes, running parallel to the shore-hugging Boulevard de la Croisette, marks the very heart of the town center as Cannes’ commercial hub. Fashion boutiques abound, and there’s something to suit all tastes and budgets, although most of the big-name labels are located on La Croisette. You’ll find almost all the essentials here: food, the train station, libraries etc. and it’s a great place to shop. Make sure you visit the Galerie du Gray d'Albion, a beautiful shopping arcade which juts out onto La Croisette.
Le Vieux Port & Le Suquet (The Old Port & The Hill)
Far from the opulence and modernity of Cannes, the old port and adjoining Suquet district are the most picturesque parts of town, taking you back in time. It’s easy to lose your way among the elaborate labyrinth of back streets, quaint passageways and pretty little squares, but they are refreshingly cool retreats in the summer heat. Climb the streets to reach the top of the Suquet hill, from where you can take in an unrivaled panorama of Cannes and the surrounding area. It makes for an especially romantic view as dusk falls and the town begins to light up beneath you. Just behind this point is one of Cannes’ few museums, the Musée de la Castre, sheltered in a 12th-century castle which once belonged to the monks of the Lérins islands just offshore. It houses a beautiful collection of objects of Mediterranean origin, with an emphasis on ethnography and archeology, as well as many musical instruments from all over the world. Also on Le Suquet is the Eglise Notre-Dame d'Espérance, which dates back to the 17th Century. The church is especially renowned for its naïve-style thanksgiving plaques created by locals (who were not necessarily artistic) as a tribute to the Virgin Mary, who answered their prayers. As for the old port, its moorings are only occupied by yachts and small fishing boats. But Cannes is a master at harmonizing contrasts: old lives beside new, luxury mingles with rustic, and the town and countryside happily complement one another here.
Le Cannet-Rocheville
Let the long, wide Boulevard Carnot lead you to the peaceful and pleasant suburb of Cannet with its picturesque architecture, where the tiny old town resembles a little inland village. The district boasts many art and crafts galleries, a chapel decorated by Tobiasse–a celebrated painter from Israel who lives on the Côte d’Azur, as well as a bunch of great little restaurants.
California & Super-Cannes
Situated on a small hill, the California district is blessed with many beautiful green areas. The Mediterranean flora is in bloom all year long, featuring aloes, mimosas, pine and cork-oak trees, and the area actually owes its name, California, to this vegetation which evokes western America. The town’s most beautiful houses and hotels were built here during the belle époque, and although little of them remain today, this is still a high-class area. The villas are sumptuously luxurious, lavishly brimming with wealth and finery, although it’s often difficult to catch a glimpse of them as they are usually hidden amongst extensive grounds.
La Bocca
Situated just to the west of Cannes, close to the motorway and the Cannes-Mandelieu airport, the Cannes-La Bocca district doesn’t have much to offer the tourist. That said, it does have a large number of superstores selling sports gear, furniture and the like.
Îles de Lérins (The Lérins Islands)
These two sparkling emeralds set off the coast of Cannes go by the names of Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat. Far from the hustle and bustle of the town, the islands seem to look on Cannes with an assured and peaceful air. Adventuring into the natural beauty of the islands is a very popular pursuit during the summer months. To get there, take one of the boats which depart near the Palais des Festivals. It was on the island of Sainte-Marguerite that the “Man in the Iron Mask”, made famous by Alexandre Dumas, was kept for eleven years, (although the mask was in fact made of velvet). In addition to the vegetation, the monastery on Saint-Honorat is well worth a visit.
