Cannes, France

Early winter morning at Rue d'Antibes in Cannes

Coined as the “Sister City of Beverly Hills”, Cannes is the commerce and activity center of the French Riviera. Walk along Cannes’ most famous avenues: the Boulevard de la Croisette where luxury hotels, chic bars and fancy restaurants line the street; and the Rue d’Antibes for an upscale shopping experience

Sleeping winter morning at Rue d’Antibes,

Rue d’Antibes, the former imperial royal road linking Toulon to Antibes, is the ultimate shopping street! To attract the 19th century English colonists, many shops, such as chemists, greengrocers and tailors adopted a Franco-English style.

Sunny side of life

While it is true that Cannes came to fame because of this glamorous event, the gorgeous city of Cannes has more to offer besides beautiful people, posh neighborhoods, and the glitz and glamour of the movie industry.

Early sunny morning at the seaside in Cannes.

La Croisette : in 1850, the Croisette was nothing more than a path running parallel to the sea across sand dunes. The Croisette is now an avenue renowned for its prestigious shops and the luxury hotels that have established Cannes' history, including the Carlton, the Martinez, and the Majestic.

A stunning "World Village"

In 1834, Lord Brougham, a former Lord Chancellor of England, was detained in Cannes during a trip to Italy. The reason for his unplanned stay was a cholera outbreak that temporarily prevented him from travelling on to Nice. He liked the place so much that he decided to build himself a villa at the Croix des Gardes. Many people came to visit him here, particularly those wishing to escape an English winter.

Let the journey begins

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 walls of Cannes are also part of the cast

This mural in the main bus station of Cannes was designed by the designer A.Fresco. It depicts scenes from historical movies, actors and scenes. Ever mindful of improving the quality of life of the people of Cannes and enhancing the appearance of the city’s neighbourhoods, the Municipality of Cannes has since 2002 been promoting a vast programme of giant wall paintings which residents and visitors can discover at various locations across town upon turning into one of the city’s streets or avenues.

Panoramic view of Cannes.

In 1838, work began on building a pier, which subsequently attracted the yachting community. Next came the Casino Municipal and the Esplanade des Alliés. By the end of the 19th century, Cannes was home to many large 'Belle Epoque' villas and hotels. These included the famous Carlton Hotel, which opened its doors to fashionable members of the English aristocracy.