Cannes - Buses and Buses - Transportation - Attractions and Sightseeing.

Cannes is a town in France in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region with a population of 70,000. The origins of this coastal city date back to ancient times, when a tribe of Ligurians established their settlement here. The name "Cannes" comes from a word meaning reed, in ancient times growing abundantly on the local coast.

From the Middle Ages until the first half of the 19th century, Cannes was a small fishing and farming village. In the 1830s it was discovered by French and foreign aristocrats, especially contributed by the Scottish Lord Henry Brougham. Since then, the village has developed significantly and has become increasingly popular.

Cannes - what to see in the capital of cinema?

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Cannes does not have too many attractions or interesting sights to see. To visit it, two or three hours are completely sufficient, as the touristic part of the city with the main attractions extends for about one and a half kilometers. Cannes is not one of the highest rated cities of the French Riviera by tourists. It is distinguished by its glamour and modern architecture, so different from the surrounding historic, atmospheric towns. However, Cannes significantly comes alive and acquires a unique charm on the occasion of the Film Festival or other events held there in spring and summer.

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Cannes Film Festival

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Once a year for two weeks before the vacations, Cannes becomes the capital of world cinematography, attracting movie stars and crowds of tourists. Especially then it is worth visiting the Côte d'Azur, although hotels in Cannes are then much more expensive and it is better to look for accommodation outside the city. The Cannes Film Festival has been organized practically every year since 1946. In addition to film screenings, including the main competition for the Palme d'Or, numerous concerts and side events are organized then.

Avenue of the Stars

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Nearly to the Festival Palace is a walkway with the handprints of more than 300 famous directors, filmmakers and cinema stars. There you can spot plaques dedicated to Polish directors - Andrzej Wajda, Roman Polanski or Andrzej Zulawski.

The Avenue of the Stars

The Avenue of the Stars is located near the Festival Palace.

Le Suquet - Old Town

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Under the name le Suquet is the city's oldest district, located on a hillside and topped by an 11th-century castle. Quite a few of the houses there belonged to fishermen when Cannes was still a small fishing village. While you're there, it's worth taking a stroll especially along the charming Saint-Antoine street, full of restaurants and cafes.

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Château de la Castre

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The castle towering over Cannes dates back to the 11th century. Its main function was coastal defense. Since the 20th century, it has housed a museum collecting works of art, artifacts from different eras, collections of primitive art or musical instruments from around the world. When visiting the museum, it is worth climbing the castle tower, which offers a beautiful view of the entire area.

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Beach and boulevard la Croisette

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One of Cannes' most important landmarks is the promenade de la Croisette, which stretches along the coast for about two kilometers. Located along it are the most expensive hotels and restaurants, with the most famous being the monumental Hotel Carlton-Intercontinental, where movie stars stay during the festival. Also located on the boulevard is the Festival Palace, where the famous Cannes Film Festival takes place every year.

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On the other side of the boulevard la Croisette is a beautiful, almost postcard-perfect beach. Unlike most beaches on the Côte d'Azur, it is sandy and mostly quite wide. In addition, its proximity to the Léonian Islands adds to its charm. The beaches in Cannes stretch for about 8 kilometers, noting that those along the promenade are mostly private and belong to the surrounding hotels.

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Lerinan Islands

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This small archipelago is only 1.5 kilometers from the Cannes coast. It consists of two small and two larger islands - St. Margaret and St. Honoratus. St. Margaret's Island is mostly covered with trees, and you can also find remains from Roman times and the historic Fort Royal, which now houses the Museum of the Sea. It is worth knowing that a mysterious prisoner of King Louis XIV, known as the Man in the Iron Mask, was held in the fort for 11 years. The island of St. Honoratus, meanwhile, is home to a Cistercian monastery and the ruins of the former monastic fortifications.