Tourist information on Cannes, France

Cannes is one of the most popular holiday resorts in the south of France, offering luxuriant sandy beaches, sumptuous sea views, an atmospheric old town and a vibrant social scene. Once a sleepy fishing village, it is now associated with glamour and celebrity, through its long association with the world's most famous film festival. It is situated to the west of the Alpes-Maritimes department in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and has one of the most benign climates in France, making it a pleasant holiday destination throughout the year, and not just for the rich and famous.

The history of Cannes can be traced back to the 2nd century BC when it was the site of a settlement inhabited by a Ligurian tribe, the Oxybii. It acquired the name Canua some time in the 10th century. Before this, a Roman outpost had been established on Le Suquet, the hilly old town of Cannes. Up until the 16th century, Cannes was controlled by a group of monks who had previously inhabited the nearby Lérins Islands. In the latter years of the 19th century, the town became a popular winter resort for the aristocracy, after the British Lord Chancellor Henry Brougham had built his winter villa here. By the turn of the century, Cannes had become one of Europe's most fashionable winter resorts. The city flourished as luxury facilities were built to accommodate and entertain its wealthy visitors. By the 1960s, Cannes had been completely transformed, with its exclusive hotels (such as the Miramar), modern sports centre and grand palm tree lined boulevards. In 1946, the city inaugurated its international film festival, which soon became the best known event of its kind in the world. Each year, in the month of May, numerous film directors from around the world enter the competition in the expectation of walking away with the coveted grand prize, the Palme d'Or. The festival begins with the famous parade of film industry celebrities down the Croisette, Cannes' main promenade, and up the steps of the Palais des Festivals, where the films are screened.

The two main attractions in Cannes are its beaches and its picturesque old town. Whilst the beaches here are generally superior to those of other Riviera resorts, most are privately owned (many by the hotels) and therefore expensive to access. There is however an attractive public beach at the west end of the Croisette, near the new conference centre. Perhaps even more inviting than the sandy beaches is the old town, Le Suquet, which is situated on a hill and is full of medieval charm. This is where you will find the remains of an ancient fortified castle and Notre-Dame d'Esperance, an attractive Provençal Gothic church dating from the 15th century. Another attraction is the 12th century Chapelle Ste-Anne, which houses the Musée de la Castre, renowned for its collection of antiques, paintings and sculptures. Le Suquet offers some of the best views of Cannes and is perfect for a leisurely stroll.

The glamorous heart of Cannes is its long waterfront avenue, the Boulevard de la Croisette, which stretches from the harbour in the west to the Pointe de la Croisette and Palm Beach in the east. How easy it is to be lured from the Croisette towards the exclusive beaches, classy restaurants and fashionable boutiques... The harbour is inevitably crowded with expensive yachts and overlooked by the Tour du Mont Chevalier, which offers fantastic views of Cannes and the surrounding seascape. On Boulevard Montfleury there is a funicular railway which takes you to the Observatory for the best views of the town. The rue Meynardiers is a haven for gourmands and is the location of the Marché Forville, a covered market that is the perfect place to sample the region's food.

A short boat trip will take you to the idyllic Îles de Lérins, two islands in the Bay of Cannes which offer tranquillity and lush scenery. The smaller St Honorat island has a ruined castle and a monastery inhabited by Cistercian monks, who divide their time between prayer and wine production. On the larger island of Ste-Marguerite, there are old prison buildings which include the 12th century Tour du masque. The latter is believed to be haunted by the ghost of the Man in the Iron Mask, whose body was discovered in the tower in 1703 and whose identity remains a mystery. The Tour du masque is now part of the Musée de la Mer, whose other exhibits include the remains from shipwrecks off the island, such as Roman and Saracen ceramics. To the north of Cannes is the town of Grasse, the perfume capital of France. Grasse's main attractions are the Musée Fragonard, which shows how perfume is made, and the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire de Provence, which traces the history of the Provence region through a collection of paintings, earthenware, furniture and costumes.

The nearest airport to Cannes is Nice International Airport, which provides connections to many European, destinations including Paris, London, Rome and Madrid. From the airport, take a shuttle bus into Nice and then take a bus or coach to the centre of Cannes. From the Gare de Cannes there is a high speed (TGV) rail connection to several French cities, including Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Nice. A regional rail service operates from Cannes' smaller stations, Gare de Cannes-La Bocca and Gare du Bosquet. Cannes is well served by its bus network.