Cannes, France: Things To Do & See

There are so many things to do in Cannes, France that it is truly difficult to decide where to begin. So, we will just dive in with no further contemplation.

La Croisette got its name from a small cross that used to stand east of the Cannes Bay. It is one of the most famous avenues in France and a wonderful promenade in the heart of Cannes that attracts locals as well as visitors from around the world. La Croisette runs parallel to the seashore and its beaches for just a couple of miles with the Mediterranean, the Lerins Islands off the coast and the Esterel mountain range on its one side. On its other side are palm trees, sumptuous hotels and stylish boutiques. Created during the nineteenth century, the beachfront vendors are friendly and inviting and the generous selection of restaurants is outstanding.

The very charming Lerins Islands are still relatively wild and car-free and are a short, half hour, boat trip off the coast of Cannes. Saint-Honorat is the smaller of the two islands and has an active monastery, a museum and an abbey. The larger, Sainte-Marguerite has the old fort where the legendary man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned. This island also houses the Musee de la Mer that was dedicated to the treasures of the sea and displays impressive archaeological treasures.

The annual Festival International d’art Pyrotechnique that began in 1967 gathers the best fireworks designers in the world for a magical celestial showing at the Cannes Bay and attracts thousands of spectators.

Palais des Festivals et des Congres is a huge block that was built in 1982 and is one of the most popular places in town where all activities focus on tourism, international festivals and conferences all year round. The Palais des Festivals et des Congres sits on the beach and marks the end of La Croisette and the beginning of Cannes’ old port, and it hosts such world renown events as the international music trade show MIDEM, MIPTV (International Television Program Market) and the most famous Cannes Film Festival. This massive structure contains within it 24,000 square yards of exhibition space, an auditorium that   sits 2,300 viewers, a casino and a nightclub.

The acclaimed Cannes Film Festival draws stars from all over the world to convene for this prestigious annual event. Films from around the globe are screened for the first time in ten different categories, formal evening attire is mandatory at all the screenings and the most esteemed award is the Palme d’Or.

The Gallery du Carlton is located at the magnificent InterContinental Carlton Hotel and houses a fine collection of paintings, sculptures and glassware. The gallery is interested in buying as well as selling and you will find works by Chagall, Matissee, Picasso, Renoir, Utrillo and Vlaminck.

Plage du Majestic is a private beach directly opposite the InterContinental Carlton Hotel where you can laze in the sun, take in a few of its water sports, or stop at is restaurant for some fabulous seafood.

If you find yourself in Cannes between April and November, discover the beautiful underwater cliffs located around the islands of Lerins.

For the tennis enthusiasts among you, the Tennis Municipal la Bastide Rouge has eighteen hard surface courts (nine of which are floodlit), five clay courts and two training walls.

The Cannes Airline Forum is located in the InterContinental Carlton Hotel and hosts prominent annual industry-specific forums like deregulation, the environment, distribution and airline growth.

And then there are the Plage Okey, the Galerie Alexandre Leadouze, the Petits Trains de Cannes, the Musee de la Castre, the Plage du Gray d’Albion, and the Riviera Beach.

As you can see, you can spend as much time in Cannes as your heart desires because you will never get bored.

Posted in France Vacation Guide