Mentioning the French city of Cannes brings to mind images of red carpets, movie stars and palm trees. Indeed, the celebrated film festival has played a large part in Cannes's current fame, but the town itself is also a popular tourist destination in its own right, with a whole lot more to offer.
In fact, a visit to Cannes, situated on the Côte d'Azur, represents more than just a peek into the splendour of the cinema world. It's also a genuine encounter with the glitz and glamour of the legendary French Riviera. However, there’s also another side to this eclectic destination, as the more down-to-earth atmosphere of the old port and the fish markets reflects the simpler and more natural, traditional lifestyle of Mediterranean Europe.
Like most of the towns on the Côte d'Azur, Cannes began its existence as little more than a humble fishing village. More unusually, it was also home to a large community of Christian monks. The township, along with the nearby islands of Saint-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat, were under constant threat from Saracen pirates, who constantly raided the area. Finally, a castle was built to defend against such attacks, and the town received its name. The count of Provence granted the castle to the monks, who soon prospered upon the donations of pilgrims. This enabled them to further develop the city and build the look-out tower on Saint-Honorat, which still stands today.
During the 19th Century, Cannes first made its name as a health resort, particularly popular among the British aristocracy. The wonderful, mild climate and attractive natural characteristics of the region soon attracted crowds of wealthy tourists from all over Europe, and later also from the United States. The town became a prosperous magnet for the well-heeled, famous for its yachting, hotels, casinos, and more recently, its film festival.
Cannes isn’t a very large city, so it’s a genuine pleasure to see its most famous sights on foot. Perhaps its most easily recognisable landmark is La Croisette, a picturesque crescent-shaped beach stretching along the coastline for 12 kilometres. Expensive shops and restaurants line the curve of La Croisette, and its exclusive private beaches are good places to spot movie stars during the film festival.
The Vieux Port (Old Port) gives more of an insight into Cannes's past, with its rows of fishing boats moored to the pier. However, alongside these humble vessels, one can also see the ostentatious yachts and boats of the rich and famous, making for quite a peculiar contrast. The fish and flower markets have their own particular atmospheres, which definitely must be experienced firsthand. Don't miss a chance to see the markets being assembled at sunrise.