Categories: EuropeTravel

Cannes, French Riviera

Cannes is an important city in the south of France, located in the Alpes-Maritimes. Once a small fishing village on the French Riviera, Cannes is now a glamorous and expensive seaside town considered to be one of the social hubs of Europe.

Ligurian fishing village during Antiquity, linked to the legends of Saint-Honorat and of the man in the iron mask on the Lérins Islands off the bay of Cannes, climatic and seaside resort of the Côte d’Azur in the xix th century, the town took off with the construction of vacation homes by aristocratic English and Russian and then from the beginning of the xx th century, for hotelsluxury for wealthy tourists, constituting its architectural heritage.

With a cutting-edge industry, a small business airport, several ports and a convention center, anchored in the Bay of Cannes, bordered by the Esterel Massif to the west, the Gulf Juan to the east and the Mediterranean Sea, Cannes is today world famous for its film and yachting festivals and for its Croisette bordered by a few palaces.

Cannes is host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The city is known for its association with the rich and famous, its luxury hotels and restaurants, and for several conferences. On 3 November 2011 it hosted the 2011 G20 summit.

Geography
Cannes is located in the urban community of Pays de Lérins, west of the department of Alpes-Maritimes on the French Riviera in the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA) region, on the eastern shore of the alluvial plain of Siagne, bordering the Mediterranean Sea in what is commonly called the bay of Cannes or the Gulf of La Napoule. The municipal area is part of a crescent oriented to the south, 9 km long from west to east and 5 km wide from north to south, occupying a total area of 1,962 hectares. The National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information assigns the geographic coordinates 43 ° 33’29 “north and 07 ° 01’04” east to the central point of this territory. The town is irrigated by the Béal stream and the Grande Frayère river, its geography is characterized by a relative disparity in elevations, with a coastal strip and hills and peaks like Le Suquet, Croix-des-Gardes or Bois- de-la-Maure where is the highest point of the town 260 m fromaltitude.

Climate
Cannes is located on the Côte d’Azur and enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The mistral sometimes blows although the town is sheltered by the Esterel massif. It can be more exposed to the east or to the sirocco which occur fortunately rarely. Annual average, the temperature was fixed at 14.6 ° C with a maximum average of 19.2 ° C and a minimum of 9.9 ° C. The maximum and minimum nominal temperatures recorded are 26.9 ° Cin August and 3.2 ° C in January, soft values thanks to the presence of the Mediterranean. If the maximum temperatures are roughly the same as those recorded in Nice, the minimum are all year around 2 ° C lower. The sunshine record stands at 2748 hours a year with a peak of 355 hours in August. Another important value, characteristic of the Mediterranean climate, is 857 mm of precipitation over the year, very unevenly distributed with less than 20 mm in July and more than 120 mm in October.

Understand
Cannes moment to shine arrives in May as the venue for the Cannes Film Festival, entertaining the rich and famous. During the festival, fans can see actors, celebrities, and directors up close and in person on the famous steps of the Palais des Festivals at the end of La Croisette. Although its nightlife, casinos and high end restaurants give Cannes a feel of exclusivity, Cannes does have alternatives to suit all types of budgets. Tourists can check out the beauty and architecture of Le Suquet, with its cobbled streets and breathtaking views, or sit at street side tables and enjoy the favoured hobby of people watching up and down the lovely marina.

Authentic southern village with a rich and varied heritage, sumptuous contemporary city with a special mention for luxury and glamor, Cannes surprises you around every street and in its close surroundings…

With an exceptional sunshine rate, its excellent restaurants, its historic heart, its sandy beaches (while the region’s beaches are rather pebble) and its magnificent bay, Cannes has assets that the seaside and tourist resorts of the world whole envy him.

Originally a modest Mediterranean village of fishermen and monks, its history is inseparable from that of the Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat islands, which are just a few oars from the shore.

History
By the 2nd century BC, the Ligurian Oxybii established a settlement here known as Aegitna. Historians are unsure what the name means. The area was a fishing village used as a port of call between the Lérins Islands.

n 154 BC, it became the scene of violent but quick conflict between the troops of Quintus Opimius and the Oxybii.

In the 10th century, the town was known as Canua. The name may 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 Roman tombs discovered here. Le Suquet housed an 11th-century tower, which overlooked swamps where the city now stands. Most of the ancient activity, especially protection, was on the Lérins Islands, and the history of Cannes is closely tied to 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 Lérins islands forced the monks to settle on the mainland, 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 Lérins islands. One took a century to build.

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

During the 18th century, both the Spanish and British tried to gain control of the Lérins Islands but were chased away by the French. The islands were later controlled by many, such as Jean-Honoré Alziary and the Bishop of Fréjus. They had many different purposes: at the end of the 19th century, one served as hospital for soldiers wounded in the Crimean War.

Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux bought land at the Croix des Gardes and constructed the villa Eleonore-Louise. His work to improve living conditions attracted the English aristocracy, who also built winter residences.

At the end of the 19th century, several railways were completed, which prompted the arrival of streetcars. In Cannes, projects such as the Boulevard Carnot and the rue d’Antibes were carried out. After the closure of the Casino des Fleurs (hôtel Gallia), a luxury establishment was built for the rich winter clientele, the Casino Municipal next to the pier Albert-Edouard. This casino was demolished and replaced by the new Palace in 1979.

In the 20th century, new luxury hotels such as the Carlton, Majestic, Martinez, and JW Marriott Cannes were built. The city was modernised with a sports centre, a post office, and schools. There were fewer British and German tourists after the First World War, but more Americans. Winter tourism gave way to summer tourism, and the summer casino at the Palm Beach was constructed.

The city council had the idea of starting an international film festival shortly before World War II. The first opened on 20 September 1946, held in the Casino Municipal.

Landmarks
The Promenade de la Croisette is the waterfront avenue with palm trees. La Croisette is known for picturesque beaches, restaurants, cafés, boutiques and luxury hotels. Le Suquet, the old town, provides a good view of La Croisette. The fortified tower and Chapel of St Anne house the Musée de la Castre. A distinctive building in Cannes is the Russian Orthodox church.

Villas
Cannes of the 19th century can still be seen in its grand villas, built to reflect the wealth and standing of their owners and inspired by anything from medieval castles to Roman villas. They are not open to the public. Lord Brougham’s Italianate Villa Eléonore Louise (one of the first in Cannes) was built between 1835 and 1839. Also known as the Quartier des Anglais, this is the oldest residential area in Cannes. Another landmark is the Villa Fiésole (known today as the Villa Domergue) designed by Jean-Gabriel Domergue in the style of Fiesole, near Florence, which may be visited on appointment.

Sainte-Marguerite Island
It took the Man in the Iron Mask 11 years to leave the tiny, forested St Marguerite 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 discoveries from shipwrecks off the island, including Roman (1st century BC) and Saracen (10th century AD) ceramics.

Saint-Honorat Island
Cistercian monks are the only inhabitants of the smaller, southern St Honorat Island. Monks have inhabited the island since AD 410 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 shore. The monks inhabit the Lérins Abbey and divide their time between prayer and producing red and white wines.

Sightseeing
Old town — The usual narrow winding streets filled with restaurants and souvenir shops. The view from the castle ruins at the top is excellent.
Covered Market (Marché Forville) — For a spectacular eating and viewing food experience, no other market in Cannes beats this for scale and variety. The market itself is at the west end of rue Meynardiers, one of the Cote’s best gourmand streets.
Palais des Festivals — Down La Croisette is the famous Palais des Festivals, where stars of the screen gather and watch films screened during the festival. Irresistible not to pose for a photograph on the 22 steps leading up to the entrance.
Hands of the stars — Just in front of the Palais you will find a line of dozens of hand prints of famous stars and actors. Similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Murs Peints — Several houses in Cannes are painted with overly large portraits of stars and movies themes. Checkout OpenStreetMap to find them.
Suquet — A quarter with a great view over the city.
Port — Admire the yachts of the rich and possibly famous – though true mega-yachts will be found at the International Yacht Club down the coast in Antibes.
La Croisette — Cannes catwalk beside the sea, it is the center of the city’s tourist activity and known for its luxury hotels and boutique shops.
Beaches — The beaches are mostly private and cost up to €30 for a day’s use (including sunbed and shade). The public beaches are crowded, and are found at the far east and west of town. If you want a quieter beach, a better option is to go to the Îles de Lérins, see below. At night the beaches can be tranquil, but watch out for spectacular fireworks displays (see posters/ask at tourist info) in the bay, get to the beach early to get a good spot!
Îles de Lérins — Two islands in the bay that are definitely worth visiting. The smaller is St Honorat, which has a monastery and ruined castle. The monks sell monastery-made food/drink products like wine which make unique souvenirs. The larger island is Ste Marguerite which also has a castle, shops, bars, and restaurants. Find a quiet cove, some shade from palm trees, and a cheap snorkel before you swim around the rocky coves. A return ticket to Ste Marguerite is €11 with ferries departing every hour roughly from 7 in the morning until about 05:30 at night – ask for a timetable. The ticket to St Honorat costs €13, and visiting the fortified monastery costs €3/pax. The timetable and information is also available in a brochure kept in most hotel lobbies.

Natural heritage
The municipality of Cannes was awarded four flowers in the competition for flower towns and villages. It benefits from several parks and gardens spread over the territory, including the hill of Saint-Cassien, the garden of the Farm, the Barthélémy squares, Aurèle, Sainte-Rosalie, de Morès, Frédéric-Mistral, Reynaldo-Hahn, 8-May-1945 Verdun, Mero, of Friars Gaudino Joly, René-Cassin and Leo Callandry, the gardens of Le Suquet, the Riviera, Albert- I, the Hesperides, the Villa Rothschild, the Perier and olive trees. The Croix-des-Gardes natural forest park decorated with the monumental cross ofJean-Yves Lechevallier has been classified as a sensitive natural area by the department and the conservatoire du littoral. The Lérins Islands are part of a large area of the Natura 2000 network. Several sites in the town have been classified as natural areas of ecological, faunistic and floristic interest including the valley and the rock of Roquebillière, the Lérins Islands, the Siagne plain and the hillock of Saint-Cassien. In 2010, the town was awarded the European Blue Flag eco-label as its port Pierre-Canto.

Historical monuments
Sixteen sites and buildings are protected as historic monuments, including villas such as the Villa Domergue listed on September 19, 1990 and the Villa Romée listed on March 25, 1994. The Carlton Hotel was listed on October 10, 1984. The Allées de la Liberté bandstand was registered on April 3, 1990. The Convention battery was inscribed on June 6, 1933. The Suquet towerwas classified on July 28, 1937. The fortified monastery of Ile Saint-Honorat was classified from 1840, the ball ovens neighbors were ranked 22 October 1908. The royal fort on Sainte-Marguerite Island was classified on July 27, 1927.

Seaside heritage
Many villas built in the xix th century were listed under the seaside heritage and listed on the general inventory of cultural heritage. They were surrounded by botanical gardens which still exist and which are witnesses of the acclimatization movement started around 1850 notably on the French Riviera: Villa Bagatelle, Villa Excelsior, Villa Soligny, Villa La Cava, Villa Rothschild (classified July 22, 1991), Villa Hollandia, Villa Fiorentina,Villa Éléonore-Louise, Château Sainte Anne or Château de la Croix des Gardes. The park of Villa Champfleuri was registered on April 3, 1990. The park of Château Vallombrosa was registered on June 10, 1993. The Maurice-Alice villa and its 20,000 m 2 park were bought in 1931 by the city of Cannes to install the school complex of the same name.

Some botanical parks of famous villas have disappeared because they have been subdivided: this is the case for Villa Valetta and Camille-Amélie (1878). This space was created by a Lyonnais textile industrialist, Camille Dognin. Other remarkable residences and parks have also disappeared: Château Saint-Georges, whose park was created by a renowned English gardener, John Taylor (1834-1922), Villa Les Lotus, Villa Springland, Villa Victoria built at the request of Sir Thomas Robinson Woolfield by the architect Thomas Smith or the Villa des Dunesbuilt by architect Charles Baron.

Number of public and leisure facilities, passenger hotels, apartment buildings, services and shops built by architects Charles Baron, Hans Barreth, Emmanuel Bellini, Louis Cauvin, César Cavallin, Charles Dalmas, Barry Dierks, Eugène Lizero, Thomas Smith, Laurent Vianay, etc. are also listed as Cannes seaside heritage and registered in the general inventory of cultural heritage.

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Religious heritage
Church of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Voyage, rue Buttura
Sacré-Coeur-du-Prado Church, rue du Prado
Church of Christ the King, boulevard Carnot, built around 1930
Saint Joseph Church, rue Marius Monti
Church of Notre-Dame-de-l’Espérance and the Sainte-Anne chapel, former castral chapel and current exhibition hall of world musical instruments from the Castre au Suquet museum, have been listed together as Historic Monuments, rue de la Castre, blessed in 1645
Church of Notre-Dame-des-Pins, boulevard Alexandre III
Sainte-Marguerite Church, rue Barthélémy
Saint-Jean-Bosco Church, rue Honoré de Balzac
Saint-Georges Church, avenue du Roi Albert I
Saint-Roch Church, Saint-Dizier Street
Bellini Chapel, avenue de Vallauris
Chapel of the Stanislas Institute, boulevard Guynemer
Chapel of Mercy or chapel of the Black Penitents, rue de la Miséricorde, listed as a Historic Monument.
Chapel of Saint-Cassien, butte de Saint-Cassien
Saint-Paul chapel, boulevard de la République
Chapel of Saint Pierre, Garibondi road
Memorial Chapel, rue Saint-Victor
Chapele St. Antoine Road Chapel St. Anthony xvi th century.
Eglise Anglicane Holy Trinity Church, rue du Canada
Church of St. Michael the Archangel, boulevard Alexandre III
Free Evangelical Church, rue Clemenceau
United Protestant Church, rue Notre-Dame
Philippine Evangelical Church,h Cavell Street.
Synagogue, boulevard d’Alsace
Synagogue, rue du Commandant Vidal
Alexandra Orthodox Chapel, Square Alexandra.
First Church of Christ the Scientist, Duboys roundabout in Angers.

Saint-Honorat Island
Lérins Abbey Church
Saint Caprais Chapel
Saint Cyprien Chapel
Saint Michael Chapel
Saint Pierre Chapel
Saint Porcaire Chapel
Chapel of Saint-Sauveur
Chapel of the Trinity

Sainte-Marguerite Island
Fort Sainte-Marguerite Chapel

Museums
The Musée d’Art et d’Histoire de Provence houses artifacts from prehistoric to present, in an 18th-century mansion. The Musée de la Castre has objects from the Pacific Atolls, Peruvian relics and Mayan pottery. Other venues include the Musée de la Marine, Musée de la Mer, Musée de la Photographie and Musée International de la Parfumerie.

Theatre and music
Cannes is not renowned for traditional theatre. However, small venues stage productions and host short sketches during the annual International Actors’ Performance Festival. Popular theaters include the Espace Miramar and the Alexandre III.

Must do
Festival de Cannes. The most famous film festival in the world takes place in mid-May every year. The world’s biggest celebrities are on hand to walk the red carpet, and thousands of films are screened in the festival and the Marché du Film, the world’s biggest film market.
Notre-Dame d’Esperance, Place de la Castre. Provençal Gothic church with wood paneling dating back to the 14th and 15th century. Also worth a look is the collection of 19th century paintings, which includes a fresco by George Roux that portrays the baptism of Christ. The church is situated on top of Suquet hill in old Cannes, the church offers visitors a fabulous view of the town and its bay.
Croix des gardes. Natural parc area, trails and vistas
Tour du Masque, 9, rue du Mont Chevalier, Cannes 06401. A popular attraction for history and literary buffs, the Tour du Masque is said to be haunted by the ghost of the mythical,mysterious figure known as the “Man in the Iron Mask.”
Molinard, 60, boulevard Victor-Hugo, Grasse 06130, ☏ +33 4 9336-0162. Follow your nose down this flower-strewn villa to learn how perfume is made and manufactured. It’s an olfactory and visual feast, as well as smelling some of the world’s finest perfumes. Famous perfume bottles are also on display.
Musée d’Art et d’Histoire de Provence, 2 rue Mirabeau, ☏ +33 4 9705 5800. The museum retraces everyday life in Provence from prehistoric times to the present day. The Provençal way of life is illustrated through furniture, pottery, paintings, traditional costumes and santons (Christmas crib figures). There’s also an authentic formal garden for you to enjoy.
French Riviera, CMC Cannes Riviera Gastronomie Maritime, Gare Maritime, jet Albert-Edouard, Cannes 06400, ☏ +33 4 9368-9898. Enjoy the view of Cannes from this luxury ship. You can choose to do either a lunch tour or an evening dinner tour. For a one flat fee you receive lunch or dinner and a tour whilst enjoying live music. The tours run daily from 12:30PM-3PM, 8:30PM-11:30p.

Festivals and show events
The Cannes Film Festival founded in 1946 is held annually, usually in May, at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès.
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is a global event and awards show for those working in advertising and related fields, held annually in June.
Midem, the foremost trade show for the music industry.
MIPIM, the world’s largest property-related trade show.
Carnival on the Riviera is an annual parade through the streets to mark the 21-day period prior to Shrove Tuesday.
The International Festival of Games is festival of bridge, belote, backgammon, chess, draughts, tarot and more (February).
Cannes Yachting Festival is an event for boating enthusiasts in the Vieux Port (September).
The International Actors’ Performance Festival: comedy sketches and performances by fringe artists
The International Luxury Travel Market brings together under one roof the top international luxury travel providers and suppliers from all around the world.
Le Festival d’Art Pyrotechnique is a magnificent annual fireworks competition held in the summer at the Bay of Cannes.
The Global Champions Tour showjumping league has an annual event in the ports of Cannes.
Mipcom and MIPTV, held in October and April respectively, the world’s most important trade markets for the television industry.
The Pan-African Film Festival, held in early April and featuring films from the African diaspora.

Buy
Cannes is renowned for its luxury boutiques and designer fashion.

The shops in Cannes are concentrated between La Croisette and rue d’Antibes – a distance easily covered on foot. Here you’ll find all the luxury boutiques you could possibly desire as well as other shops selling products at a more affordable price range. The old town has any number of shops selling souvenirs as well.

Stroll, or stop by, the wide array of international designer shops that line La Croisette, which include Chanel, Dior, and Gucci. Check out the l`enfant terrible of French fashion, Jean Paul Gaultier in the Gray d’Albion arcade at number 17.

For those with a sweet tooth, get your fix on Rue d’Antibes, which has the best chocolatiers and delicatessens
Chez Bruno, 51 rue d’Antibes. crystallised fruit and marrons glacés
Maiffret, 31 rue d’Antibes. Chocolates made on the premises
Cannes English Bookshop, 11 rue Bivouac Napoléon (just by the Palais des Festivals). If you are getting desperate to read something in English.

A great street to grab yourself a bargain is on the Rue Meynadier, with a vibrant market atmosphere. Taste some sharp cheese at Ceneri, on 22 rue Meynadier, while quality wines are found at La Cave Forville, at 3 Forville Market.

A souvenir from the monastery on Ste Honorat is a good way to distinguish yourself from the other tourists toting bags of the same souvenirs.

Standard shopping hours are Monday to Saturday 10AM-12PM and 2:30PM–7:30PM. In high season, many shops do not close for lunch. Sales tax varies between 5.5% (food) to 19.6% (luxury goods).

Eat
Although it tends to get pretty pricey to eat out in Cannes, it is possible to get a delicious meal incorporating the mouth-watering, fresh regional produce sourced from the markets.

The most popular restaurants to eat at are all along the riverfront, although they are they are not particularly value for money. While the food is ok, it’s overpriced, however the people watching and posing-potential is an important compensation.

The best areas for dining are the rue Meynadier, in the beautiful old district of Le Suquet, where you can dine outdoors with a stunning view of the town below, and in the back streets of the Rue de Antibes, you can find some reasonable dining options.

Vegetarians have a bit of a rough time in France generally, in that most menus classify things as fish, meat and nothing else, and the French pride themselves in eating some fairly esoteric parts of animals not found in supermarkets back home – “testicules de mouton” for example. Traditional French cuisine is expensive at best, you could consider eating in some of the more Italian places.

The most romantic setting for dining in Cannes is away from the conference/ expense account circuit of central Cannes, in the historic quarter of Le Cannet, a northern suburb of Cannes some two kilometers away. Accessible by taxi or local buses, Vieux Le Cannet looks down over Cannes, and at its best vantage point is the large tree lined open square of Place Bellvue, tables alfresco, bounded by four or five quality restaurants patronized mainly by French “in the know”. The Place Bellvue is on the main street rue St Sauver, home to artists ateliers and picture-postcard old French scenes. Well worth the extra effort.

Philcat. Sells Pan Bagnat, but quite expensive for €6.
24 Suquet Restaurant, 24 rue du Suquet Located in the old town of Cannes, this chic and cosy restaurant serves fine Provincial cuisine in an atmosphere that is as welcoming as it is becoming.
Le Caveau 30, 45 rue Félix Faure. Fresh seafood and produce worth coming back for, at this upscale restaurant that tends to get quite crowded in the summer months. Impressive wine list to go with the varied menu options and the staff are always attentive and professional.
Palm Square, 1 allées de la Liberté. Chic and ultra trendy, the Palm Square is the place to eat tasty food surrounded by a group of friends, in a gorgeous setting. Cuisine is mostly modern French, although the chef does mix it up with splashes of Indian or Thai flavorings.
La Palme d’Or, Hôtel Martinez, 73 boulevard de la Croisette. Great location overlooking the bay of Cannes. Food is of an extremely high standard, the stylish and contemporary decor impresses, and the service is impeccable. Two Michelin stars have been awarded to this restaurant.
Le Restaurant Arménien, 82 boulevard de la Croisette. For genuine Armenian food served in a charming and atmospheric setting. Popular restaurant that also offers Mediterranean inspired alternatives.
Authentic, 92, Ave Francis Tonner, Cannes La Bocca (traveling west from Cannes, pass the market in La Bocca & it’s on your right, one block further.). No view (location isn’t great), but this resto itself is simple but lovely. Even better, the food. For a really wonderful meal at 30% or less of prices in Cannes itself, check out this great little secret. The meal always begins with a little complimentary tasting. Very popular at noon, so make a reservation during August for lunch or dinner. The chef is from Alsace, but uses local fare superbly, too. menus start under €20 for dinner.
Sombraro X-press, 25 rue suquet. Wholesome Mexican food at a great price. Menu includes light choices for watchful eaters. cheap.
Bella Pizza, 9 rue du maréchal Joffre. Reported as a very good pizza in Cannes, with extremely nice owners. €12 for a pizza.

Get around

On foot
Walking can quite often be the fastest mode of transport in Cannes. It also gives you the chance to stumble upon hidden sights that you may miss otherwise.

By bus
Getting around Cannes is not a problem at all. The city is well equipped with an efficient bus system (the only public transportation available in town) that provides service not only in the city but also to neighboring La Bocca, Le Cannet and Mandelieu-La Napoule. The bus companies include STU de Cannes Bus Azur, Bus Azur, CTM Cannes La Bocca and Beltrame. They all have scheduled services with a frequency of a bus every 15 min. Tickets can be purchased on the bus or at the bus stations and cost €1.50 per ride or you can purchase a Carte 10 which gives you 10 reduced-rate tickets at the bus office. But be careful which fare you buy as buses in Cannes can be very expensive.

By taxi
Taxis de Cannes. Taxis can be hailed on the street or you can order them by phone or internet. Fares are pre-established with an opening charge of €3.50 and subsequent charges of €1.06-2.90/km.

By car
Cannes has all the usual hire car rental establishments (Hertz, Avis, Budget) where you can rent a car if you wish. Parking is generally not an issue. Although you will have to pay, it is recommended that you use one of the off street parking garages as this is far better than searching fruitlessly for a parking lot on the street. Moreover Cannes has a truly horrible one-way system and it is much easier to walk. The Fontville parking gives good access to the port and old town.

If you are more interested in the Croisette and/or dislike walking, then there are other parking garages that are available, like the one by the station: one of the best is the one underneath the Palais des Festivales, and the one under the Grey d’Albion hotel in Rue des Serbes.

French Riviera
The French Riviera is the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France. There is no official boundary, but it is usually considered to extend from Cassis, Toulon or Saint-Tropez on the west to Menton at the France–Italy border in the east, where the Italian Riviera joins. The coast is entirely within the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of France. The Principality of Monaco is a semi-enclave within the region, surrounded on three sides by France and fronting the Mediterranean. Riviera is an Italian word that corresponds to the ancient Ligurian territory, wedged between the Var and Magra rivers.

The climate of the Côte d’Azur is temperate Mediterranean with mountain influences on the northern parts of the departments of Var and Alpes-Maritimes. It is characterized by dry summers and mild winters which help reduce the likelihood of freezing. The Côte d’Azur enjoys significant sunshine in mainland France for 300 days a year.

This coastline was one of the first modern resort areas. It began as a winter health resort for the British upper class at the end of the 18th century. With the arrival of the railway in the mid-19th century, it became the playground and vacation spot of British, Russian, and other aristocrats, such as Queen Victoria, Tsar Alexander II and King Edward VII, when he was Prince of Wales. In the summer, it also played home to many members of the Rothschild family. In the first half of the 20th century, it was frequented by artists and writers, including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Francis Bacon,h Wharton, Somerset Maugham and Aldous Huxley, as well as wealthy Americans and Europeans. After World War II, it became a popular tourist destination and convention site. Many celebrities, such as Elton John and Brigitte Bardot, have homes in the region.

The eastern part (maralpine) of the Côte d’Azur has been largely transformed by the concreting of the coast linked to the tourist development of foreigners from North Europe and the French,. The Var part is better preserved from urbanization with the exception of the agglomeration of Fréjus-Saint-Raphaël affected by the demographic growth of the maralpin coast and the agglomeration of Toulon which has been marked by urban sprawl on its part West and by a spread of industrial and commercial areas (Grand Var).

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