Cannes

Cannes is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The city is known for its association with the rich and famous, its luxury hotels and restaurants, and for several conferences.

CLIMATE

Cannes has a subtropical Mediterranean climate and the city enjoys 11 hours of sunshine per day during summer (July), while in winter (December to February) the weather is mild. Both seasons see a relatively low rainfall and most rain occurs during October and November, when 110 mm (4.3 in) falls.

Cannes summers are long and warm, with summer daytime temperatures regularly hitting 30 °C (86 °F), while average temperatures are about 25 °C (77 °F). Temperatures remain high from June to September, the busiest time of the year.

Mean temperatures drop below 10 °C (50 °F) for only three months of the year (December to February). The spring and autumn are also warm, although more suited to those who prefer slightly cooler weather.

LANDMARKS

The Promenade de la Croisette is the waterfront avenue with palm trees. La Croisette is known for picturesque beaches, restaurants, cafés, boutiques and luxury hotels. Le Suquet, the old town, provides a good view of La Croisette. The fortified tower and Chapel of St Anne house the Musée de la Castre. A distinctive building in Cannes is the Russian Orthodox church.

VILLAS

Cannes of the 19th century can still be seen in its grand villas, built to reflect the wealth and standing of their owners and inspired by anything from medieval castles to Roman villas. They are not open to the public.

Lord Brougham's Italianate Villa Eléonore Louise (one of the first in Cannes) was built between 1835 and 1839. Also known as the Quartier des Anglais, this is the oldest residential area in Cannes.

Villa Fiésole (known today as the Villa Domergue) designed by Jean-Gabriel Domergue in the style of Fiesole, near Florence, which may be visited on appointment.

Île Sainte-Marguerite

It took the Man in the Iron Mask 11 years to leave the tiny, forested St Marguerite Island. The mysterious individual was believed to be of noble blood, but his identity has never been proven. His cell can be visited in the Fort of St Marguerite, now renamed the Musée de la Mer (Museum of the Sea). This museum also houses discoveries from shipwrecks off the island, including Roman (1st century BC) and Saracen (10th century AD) ceramics.

Île Saint-Honorat (St Honorat Island)

Cistercian monks are the only inhabitants of the smaller, southern St Honorat Island. Monks have inhabited the island since AD 410 and, at the height of their powers, owned Cannes, Mougins, and Vallauris. Medieval vestiges remain in the stark church, which is open to the public, and in the ruins of the 11th-century monastery on the sea shore. The monks inhabit the Lérins Abbey and divide their time between prayer and producing red and white wines.

MUSEUMS

The Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Provence houses artifacts from prehistoric to present, in an 18th-century mansion. The Musée de la Castre has objects from the Pacific Atolls, Peruvian relics and Mayan pottery. Other venues include the Musée de la Marine, Musée de la Mer, Musée de la Photographie and Musée International de la Parfumerie.

ARTS & CULTURE

Cannes is not renowned for traditional theatre. However, small venues stage productions and host short sketches during the annual International Actors' Performance Festival. Popular theaters include the Espace Miramar and the Alexandre III.

EVENTS

The Cannes Film Festival founded in 1946 is held annually, usually in May, at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès.
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is a global event and awards show for those working in advertising and related fields, held annually in June.
Midem, the foremost trade show for the music industry.
MIPIM, the world's largest property-related trade show.
Carnival on the Riviera is an annual parade through the streets to mark the 21-day period prior to Shrove Tuesday.
The International Festival of Games is festival of bridge, belote, backgammon, chess, draughts, tarot and more (February).
Cannes Yachting Festival is an event for boating enthusiasts in the Vieux Port (September).
The International Actors' Performance Festival: comedy sketches and performances by fringe artists
The International Luxury Travel Market brings together under one roof the top international luxury travel providers and suppliers from all around the world.
Le Festival d'Art Pyrotechnique is a magnificent annual fireworks competition held in the summer at the Bay of Cannes.
The Global Champions Tour showjumping league has an annual event in the ports of Cannes.
Mipcom and MIPTV, held in October and April respectively, the world's most important trade markets for the television industry.
The Pan-African Film Festival, held in early April and featuring films from the African diaspora.

BUSES

Coach services arrive at the Gare Routière de Cannes, in the centre of the city, near the Town Hall. Companies from abroad include Eurolines and Agence Phoceens. Regional services are by Rapides Côte d'Azur and CTM, with services from Nice and Grasse/Mandelieu respectively. Local bus services are provided by Bus Azur.

RAILWAYS

There are several rail services including: TGVs from Paris Gare de Lyon to Nice, a TER from Marseille St Charles to Nice, a TER service from Cannes to Les Arcs, a TER service from Grasse/Cannes to Ventimiliga (Italy), and an occasional Thello (Italian train) from Marseille St Charles to Milan.

FERRIES

Ferries are available in Nice harbour from Bastia and Calvi in Corsica, with services provided by SNCM Ferryterranée and Corsica Ferries. From Bastia, the journey is 4 hours, 45 minutes on conventional ferries and 3 hours, 40 minutes on express ferries, while from Calvi, conventional vessels take 3 hours, 45 minutes and express vessels take 2 hours, 45 minutes. An average of four ferries a day sail on these routes, with more during summer.

SEAPORTS

Cannes has 2 marinas - Vieux Port de Cannes beside the Palais des Festivals and Port Pierre Canto at the far end of the Croisette. Vieux Port is the main port and popular for cruise stopovers and yacht charter. For luxury yacht charters including the annual trade events such as Cannes Film Festival, MIPCOM, MIPTV, Cannes Lions, ILTM, MIPIM etc. its advisable to make arrangements through a charter specialist familiar with port regulations.

AIRPORTS

Located 24 km (15 mi) from Cannes, Nice Côte d'Azur Airport has close to 10 million passengers a year. Marseille Provence Airport is also 150 km (93 mi) away.

The smaller Cannes – Mandelieu Airport is nearby. CannesExpress operate a regular door-to-door airport shuttle service between Nice Airport and hotels/accommodations in Cannes. Price per seat is 20 Euros.