Cannes what to see in the city of the world's most famous festival, beaches, hotels, curiosities and what to do in the Côte d'Azur if you only have a few days available.
I propose you an itinerary between cinema and glamour that I'm sure will love you. Also because, more than just a tour to discover the city of the Festival, is a fun game between the memories and the thousand anecdotes related to the most mediaeval event in the world, after the Olympics.
Index of Article
Cannes what to see
1. Palais des Festivals
Starting point can only be the stairway of Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, on which the famous red carpet stands. Impossible to enter without invitation on the days of Cannes Film FestivalUnless your date is called Brad Pitt or George Clooney.
On the other hand, you can console yourself by comparing the prints of your hands with those of the stars of yesterday and today imprinted in the plates set in the Allée des Stars that winds around the Palace. For the record, my match perfectly with Angelina Jolie, and yours? There are more than 400 autographed plates, including you can enjoy looking for the actress/actress that has your own size.
Designed by architects Bennett and Druet, the Palais des Festivals de Cannes It was completed in 1982; it covers an area of 25,000 square meters and is equipped with the most modern multimedia technologies. In addition to the Film Festival, it is used for events, conferences and festivals throughout the year, in the past it has hosted the G20 Summit, the international MIDEM music fair and the MIPTV events (International Television Program Market).
2. The Croisette
The Palais des Festivals marks the beginning of Boulevard de la Croisette, crowded avenue of Cannes. The most famous promenade of the French Riviera is flanked by golden beaches on one side and Belle Epoque hotels, beautiful villas and the highest concentration in the world of luxury boutiques from the other.
Walking on the seafront in the shade of the palm trees, making vip-watching and admiring the panorama that stretches to the Lérins Islands, is one of the most popular activities of a holiday in Cannes, and not only on the days of the Festival!
Disseminate along the Croisette you will notice the natural-size silhouettes of the characters of the most successful films of recent years, from Charlie’s Angels Lara Croft, Caribbean pirate Jack Sparrow. Put your head in the space, et voilà an indispensable selfie opportunity to share on the flight on social media.
Walking you get to La Roseraie park, where are the Port Pierre Canto invaded by luxury yachts and, just beyond, the Port de la Pointe Croisette, nautical base of the Yacht Club of Cannes. Right near the Pointe Croisette stretches the Palm Beach, one of the most beautiful public beaches in Cannes, where you can lie in the sun on the golden sand like the rest.
3. Beaches of Cannes
Cannes is famous for its beautiful beaches. This year the Croisette reinvents its myth, with the widening of the beaches and the complete renovation of the bathing establishments. The most glamorous and luxurious are private or reserved for guests of the great hotels on the Croisette, which obviously offer services and five-star restaurants.
The choice space dto the most iconic like the Carlton Beach Club and la Plage Barrière Le Majestic, which boasts the restaurant Bfire by Mauro Colagreco, the newest Mademoiselle Gray, the 4 star beach Gray d’Albion, without forgetting Lat Plage Croisette, with a elegant Provençal restaurant, the Plage Royaland and the CBeach, with a renowned restaurant of fish.
There are also public beaches, accessible to all for free, where you only pay for the rental of parasols and sunbeds. Among these, Plage du Casino along the Boulevard de la Croisette; La Bocca Beach, a quiet beach with wonderful views and golden sand, very popular between the local people and the families; Ia Plage du Midi, a long sandy beach near the Suquet.
4. The legendary palace hotels
Along the Croisette are also aligned the legendary palace hotels that helped create the myth of Cannes and that in the days of Festival host the most exclusive stars and parties. The Majestic Barrière, which also has a small private projection room, becomes the headquarters of the Festival. Intercontinental Carlton, several times transformed in turn into film sets, has a whole plan of luxurious suites dedicated to the movie stars who stayed there, from Sophia Loren to Sean Penn, from Sharon Stone to Alain Delon.
5. Hotel Martinez
The Martinez instead it traditionally hosts the exclusive dinner of members of the Jury in its star restaurant La Palme d’Or. For the occasion, the chef of the hotel creates a menu inspired by the film career of the President of the Jury: each dish is a masterpiece of high cuisine that is served in ceramic themed dishes made specially (in the photo below the plate Piano lessons created in homage to Jane Campion)
Even if you don't have a room in these dream hotels, you can always stop for a drink at the bar, hoping maybe to spot some celebrities passing through. Make yourself comfortable and if you're up Bar Galerie du Fouquet's of Majestic Barrière, order a Cosmofestival or Margafestival.
♪ Martinez I suggest you try the Acajou, the cocktail with which David Palanque, the barman of the L’Amiral bar, won the title of champion of France at the last national championship of barmen.
A Cannes is très chic dining in the restaurants on the beach, among candid gliding tents and view of the Lérins Islands. How Croisette Beach, private beach of the homonymous 4 star hotel that is located a short distance, where you can enjoy rich salads and Mediterranean dishes that smell of herbs from Provence, practically pieds-dans-l’eau.
6. Malmaison Museum
The rooms of the historian Grand Hôtel built in 1863 in a garden on the Croisette today host collections and exhibitions Malmaison Museum, entirely dedicated tocontemporary art. Every year important exhibitions Other famous artists who have found inspiration in French Riviera, how Picasso or Matisse, while the collectionand permanent includes works dI César, Miró and Masson.
7. The Suquet
Back to the center, we go to the discovery of the historic district Le Suquet, the picturesque village of fishermen original nucleus of the city, which dominates the Vieux Port. Its pedestrian streets with the old colorful houses, stairways and hidden courtyards, have preserved an anant, quiet and peaceful atmosphere. It deserves to arrive to the top of the hill to admire the magnificent panorama that embraces the whole bay to the Lérins Islands.
Domina neighborhood the ancient parish Notre-Dame de l’EspéranceThe most important church in Cannes. The late Gothic building dates back to the 16th century, but the architecture is a mix of different styles, which also include a Renaissance portico. Enter and you will be fascinated by the evocative Gothic vault, by the splendid altarpiece of the 17th century Virgin and, with a hint of luck, also by the sound of the nineteenth century organ.
8. Musée de la Castre
The medieval castle on the top of Le Suquet, which once housed the monks of Lérins, is now home to the Musée de la Castre, which boasts a large collection of Mediterranean antiquities, pre-Columbian primitive art and paintings of 19th century Provençal landscapes.
In the different rooms that follow beyond the entrance are exhibited exotic objects of Oceania and the Himalayas, while in the large hall there is an interesting collection of musical instruments from all over the world. And at the end of the visit you can climb the 12th century tower to admire the superb panorama that embraces the whole bay of Cannes, the Lerins Islands, up to the coast of Estherel.
9. Marché Forville
After wandering around the streets of the Suquet, a stop at Marché Forville, the oldest and most famous food market in Cannes, specializing in Provençal delicacies such as cheeses, olives, jams, fruit and seasonal vegetables, seafood and fresh flowers.
Open every day from 7.30 to 13-14, according to the season, you will find it in the western part of Rue Meynadier. This is where the chefs of the great hotels come to shop: follow them to safely locate the counters with the best products.
Many sellers offer free tastings, don't be shy and take advantage of it, but for a real snack, around the square there are cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy some local specialties.
10. Street Art in Cannes
A short break and away, looking for murs peints Cannes, that is the imposing murals inspired by the world of cinema that decorate the walls of the city, turning it into a museum en plein air. It's about 15, scattered around the different neighborhoods.
Enjoy discovering the gigantic portraits of Marylin Monroe, Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Jean Gabin and Alain Delon, camping on the walls of hotels and condominiums.
If you are in the mood for romance, look for Les Baisers du Cinéma, which reproduces the most famous kisses of the history of cinema, from Clark Gable-Vivien Leigh in Via col Vento to Leo Di Caprio-Kate Winslet in Titanic, to Marcello Mastroianni-Anita Ekberg in La Dolce Vita.
Anyone missing? Then look for it in the mural Cinéma Cannes (pictured below) covering the facade of the bus station, near the Vieux Port. A great choral fresco in which you will recognize Fred Astaire, Fellini, Jessica Rabbit, Batman, Belmondo, Depardieu and many other characters who have made great the history of the cinema and the Cannes festival.
"Cannes et le Cinéma, a glamorous tandem" is also a guided tour proposed by the Cannes Tourist Office, starting every Friday at 9,15 in French and at 14,30 in English. In July and August, simultaneous departure at 9,15 for both tours, in English and French.
