Cannes, French Riviera, France

VISIT CANNES and French Riviera

Cannes is an attractive coastal town and resort in the heart of the French Riviera, on the Mediterranean coast of south-east France.

Since the end of the 19th century, and perhaps even more than any other Cote d’Azur town, Cannes is associated with the rich and famous and the city reflects it with prestigious palace hotels, beach clubs, bars and restaurants aside. This is in part due to the prestigious annual Cannes Film Festival and its celebrities attending every year.

Cannes is also the premier luxury yachting destination resort, along with Monaco, in the South of France. Situated along the sea edge the 2 harbours glitter with the reflections of the sun from the many yachts harboured here.

The famous Boulevard de la Croisette, along the coast in the centre of Cannes and as far as the southern tip of the Cap de la Croisette, is the central promenade in the town and over 3 kilometres long between the town and the beach.

Back beyond the old port and harbour, you can walk steeply upwards and on to the hill known as Le Suquet, the oldest part of Cannes. This is a very picturesque part of the town with narrow streets and steep staircases between the ancient houses.

On the summit of the hill are the remains of a priory and the Chapel Saint Ann which is now home to the Musée de la Castre. The views from here over Cannes, her harbours and beaches are splendid.

THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

In May of each year, the Festival de Cannes takes over the city and tabloid newspapers worldwide.

The Festival de Cannes has been celebrating cinema for more than 60 years. Over the years, the Association Française du Festival International du Film has been able to evolve whilst keeping the essence of the Festival: a passion for cinema, the discovery of new talent and the enthusiasm of festival goers and professionals from the whole world who come to contribute to the making and distribution of films.

Professionals from the cinema industry, international stars and up-and-coming actors rub shoulders with the crowd looking for surprising pictures and encounters. Enjoy!

THE CANNES PALAIS DES FESTIVALS

The Palais offers its clients – event planners, local and foreign visitors and spectators – a new space in refined and contemporary lines, as well as a completely embellished and modernized mythical place: the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumière.

Besides different spectacular shows, theatre and live performances,  the palais des festivals hosts each year international events and congresses  like the Cannes Film Festival, MIDEM, MIPIM, MIP WORLD, MIPCOM, TFWA, MARE e MODA, MIPIM, MAPIC, Cannes Lions Advertising Festival and other events on the Cote D’Azur.

THE CANNES FIREWORKS

Every year in Summer, it is in the fantastic setting of an open bay of Cannes between the Iles de Lérins and the Pointe de l’Estérel, in a natural setting and the 400 metre wide and 200 metre high, star bedecked screen of the City of Cinema, that the best pyrotechnitians will come to compete and win before an audience of over 200,000 people, their heads craned skywards.

This is a yearly meeting of the leading artists in the world of fireworks on 14th, 21st, 29th JULY – 7th, 15th, 24th AUGUST.

ÎLES DE LÉRINS

Just opposite the Bay of Cannes, a short boat ride away from La Croisette, the beautiful Lérins Islands await you.

Situated in an unspoilt, natural setting, these Mediterranean beauty spots offer visitors a unique combination of flora and fauna, as well as an unusual history that includes the mysteries of the Man in the Iron Mask and the tranquillity of Cistercian monks…. There is plenty to explore on the Islands of Saint Honorat and Sainte Marguerite.

A boat awaits you: climb on board !

THE CANNES YACHTING FESTIVAL

For several years now the most important nautical fair on the Mediterranean and leader in the luxury yachting sector is the Cannes Yachting Festival.

Every boat builder attends this festival, often showcasing global innovations to 50,000 visitors and clients…

After the edition of the Yachting Festival, the famous Royal Regattas take place in the bay of Cannes, showcasing old craft and the most majestic sailing yachts in the world.

THE PORTS OF CANNES

Vieux Port – Quai Saint-Pierre: 

Symbolic site of the Cannes landscape, Cannes Harbour, managed by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry is known as the Old Port.

Besides its port activity, it hosts on its esplanade Pantiero all year internationally renowned events such as the Cannes Yachting festival and the Royal Regattas. The Quai Saint-Pierre, at the foot of the historic district of Cannes, Le Suquet, inaugurated in 1838, is at the heart of a beautification and modernization project including the municipal portion opened in late 2012.

Port Pierre Canto (Allied Yachting home-port): 

The second port of Cannes dedicated to boating was built from 1964 to 1965.

Port Pierre Canto, labelled “Blue Flag” since 2008, can accommodate 600 yachts and super-yachts and offers a wide range of services to vessels moored yearly or during a season. Since the resumption of its management by the City in 2002, the concepts of “ecological port” and “clean port” predominate. A new harbour master office was built in 2014 and that the number one dock was completely refurbished in 2012.