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- Destinations
- Europe
- France
- Cote d Azur
- Cannes
Cannes
Today it is hard to imagine that the quintessential, glamorous
French Riviera holiday resort of Cannes was for centuries a simple,
sleepy fishing village whose only visitors were the monks and
wealthy pilgrims who came to visit the monastery on the nearby
Island of St Honorat. All this changed in 1834 when Lord Henry
Brougham, former British Chancellor of the Exchequer, arrived and
established Cannes as a popular upmarket holiday resort for the
British upper-classes.
Soon the French and later the Russian aristocracy also flocked
to Cannes to while away their summer holidays. Each May the world's
media descend in droves for the annual Cannes Film Festival, which
draws the international celebrities and super-stars along with the
paparazzi and expectant fans hoping to glimpse the rich and famous
at the Palais des Festivals. One of the top film festivals in the
world, the Cannes Film Festival hosts the premieres of many top
studio and independent films.
Hundreds of less exceptional international conferences take
place here each year as well, making rooms hard to find and
restaurants hard to book for much of the year. Cannes is busy all
year long, frequented by hosts of business travellers off-season
and besieged by tourists on holiday in the summer, when the long
sandy beaches, glitzy nightclubs, chic shops and famous promenade
are abuzz with beautiful people flaunting the latest designer wear.
Despite the city's pretensions and massive over-development, Cannes
is still an international city of charm and good cheer, a great
holiday destination.
Information & Facts
Activities
There is much to see and do in Cannes. The old town is pleasant
for strollilng and sightseeing, and the beaches fantastic for lying
in the sun. For the more active, there are a number of watersports
available, including sailing and swimming.
Popular attractions in Cannes include the Notre-Dame
d'Esperance, the Molinard perfume factory, and the Musée d'Art et
d'Histoire de Provence. It is also worthwhile to take the trip out
to the Îles de Lérins, which boast a monastery and ruins alongside
a number of shops, bars and restaurants. There are also options for
excursions to nearby Monaco and St Tropez.
Language
French is the official language.
Money
The Euro (EUR) is the official currency in France. Currency can
be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and some large hotels,
though you will get a better exchange rate at the ATMs. Major
credit cards are widely accepted, as are travellers cheques,
particularly in major tourist destinations. Foreign currency is not
accepted.
Negatives
Cannes is not a budget holiday destination, with many
restaurants, shops and hotels charging exorbitant rates. It can be
uncomfortably overcrowded when there is a festival.
Night Life
The nightlife in Cannes is centred around the casino, like many
towns in the Côte d'Azur. The Palm Beach Casino and the Casino
Croisette are popular destinations after dark. There are a number
of bars and clubs that buzz nightly, however. The Palais Club is
both trendy and popular, and Whatnut's Bal-Room plays commercial
music. English-speaking venues like Morrison's and The Quay's are
popular with expats. There are also anumber of live music venues
and theatre performances, but those tend to die down outside of the
festivals which draw thousands to this otherwise rather small
town's shores.
Restaurants
Restaurants in Cannes are an often ostentatious display of fine
dining with a price tag to match. There are a number of popular
restaurants along the waterfront and in the district of Le Suquet
along the rue Meynadier. These are known for stunning views and
good people-watching, if not value for money. There tend to be
quieter and more reasonable restaurants along the backstreets. The
Michelin-starred La Palme d'Or is a good place to treat yourself,
and Roberto's has good Italian fare.
Shopping
In terms of shopping, Cannes is a luxury destination with top
designer shops like Dior, Chanel, and Gucci lining the streets.
Bargain-hunters won't come away disappointed, however. Most stores
are concentrated between La Croisette and rue d'Antibes. Rue
Maynadier has a fun, market-like atmosphere and a few bargains, and
the old town is where you'll find the greatest number of tourist
shops. The monastery on Ste Honorat also has an interesting
shop.
Shopping hours in Cannes run between 10am and 7:30pm, with a
roughly two-hour break for lunch at noon in the low season.
Time
Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between last Sunday in March and
last Sunday in October).