Once upon a time…

Cannes is above all the worldwide cinema capital. City of stars, yachts, congresses, summer holidays, it is also the Palais with its famous “tapis rouge”. But Cannes was poor. The inhabitants, fishers or farmers had a hard and often dangerous life. Nevertheless, they had an irremovable treasure. An heaven-sent donation : a charming environment under a merciful and soft sky. This marvellous coast, this harmonious site, this case of hills which soothe down the foreign winds, this promontory dominating the beach, these two neighbouring islands which fit tightly round and protect the coast, all this astral conjunction always fascinated and attracted men. This… from time immemorial.

Discovering

Visiting the city allows to discover the numerous facets of Cannes. The Croisette, as well as the street of Antibes, give huge of boutiques of luxury and jewellery-making. At the end of the Croisette, the residential quarter of la Californie shelters nice 19th century residences (Château Louis XIII, Villa Fiesole, Villa Rothschild). You will also be able to admire yachts and sailing boats on the quays of the harbour Cantoand go to the Palais des Festivals for a visit. http://www.festival-cannes.com..

The historical quarter of Suquet keeps the charm of the Provençal villages: streets are narrow and buildings with coloured shutters are placed side by side.

The islands of Lérins (Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat) face the city. The nice beaches and promenades will bring you change of scenery. Sainte-Marguerite, the biggest, has a park of 170 hectares and some of the nicest beaches of the French Riviera. The island is famous for its Fort Vauban, which was a royal prison and accommodated, between others, the man in the iron mask. This fort also includes the Sea Museum with his collection of underwater archaeology. Saint-Honorat www.abbayedelerins.com is the ownership of the monks and houses Cistercien monastery from feudal epoch (cloister of the 13th and 15th century). The visitors have to be respectful of the peace of monastic life and of preserved natural frame.

For your information, the round trip ticket is about 11 €.

Museums, Parks, Churches and Gardens to go through

Museum of « la Castre »: Constructed in the end of the 11th century to ensure the defence of the rising city, the medieval castle dominates the Croisette, the bay and islands of Lérins. It shelters the museum of Castre presents art of Oceania, America, Himalayas, Mediterranean antiques, Orientalist and Provençal painting, musical instruments of the whole world.

The Malmaison: Fitted out in museum space in 1983 then renewed in 1993, the garden level of Malmaison welcomes two big exhibitions a year by putting regularly in honour painters such as Matisse, Ozenfant or Picasso as well as Miró, Masson, César and Chinese painter Chu Teh-Chun. These prestigious and contemporary collections are valued by the intimate character of the place and by its charming lobbies.

The Churches Notre Dame des Pins, St George, The Orthodox Russian Church St Michel archangel, The Chapel Bellini

The Park residence Champfleuri

The Architectural Treasures of the Boulevard Carnot

Surroundings

Mandelieu la Napoule has a rich and eventful history linked to the abbey of Lérins and its castle of the 14th century. Since 1931, the traditional Mimosa festival allows to see tanks decorated for “le Grand Corso”. Nowadays, Mandelieu-La Napoule, capital of the Mimosa, constitutes one of eight stages on the Road of the Mimosa (Bormes les Mimosas, Le Rayol Canadel, Sainte Maxime, Saint Raphael, Mandelieu a Napoule, Tanneron, Pégomas, Grasse). Mandelieu-La Napoule has a varied coast (sand
beaches and creeks of red rocks of the massif characteristic of Estérel) and 6 harbours.

Antibes (12 km) would have been founded in the 5th or in 4th century before Christ by Phocean of Marseilles. At the end of the 19th, the seaside station of Juan-les-Pins was created. Nowadays, you can visit number monuments witnesses of his history. Let us name, for instance, the « Fort Carré » constructed in 16th century under Henri II and developed at the end of 17th century under Louis XIV by Vauban and the Castle of Grimaldi (15 and 16th centuries) which houses the Museum Picasso for the moment. The visit of the old city and ramparts gives a nice view on the cape of Antibes. You can stroll on the covered Provençal market or visit the museum Peynet. The harbour Vauban, one of the biggest marinas of Europe, receives every spring during thees "Voiles d'Antibes" an important parade of Yachts, the Festival of jazz of Juan-les-Pins takes place and fireworks are organized by the biggest pyrotechnicians. The worldwide Festival of underwater picture held in autumn. The visit of Marineland in Antibes allows, children and parents to admire unique shows with orcs, dolphins and otaries.

Biot contains numerous glass factories as well as the Ecomuseum of the Glass and the international gallery of the glass. Biot also welcomes numerous museums: the national Fernand Léger museum, the museum of history and ceramic bioheight gauges , and the museum of the Bonsai. The visit of the village allows to admire the place of the Church with its polychromatic pavement drawing two Maltese crosses as well as the church reconstructed in 15th century. You can have a walk on the place of Arches with its characteristic architecture and look at both doors of the 16th century village.

Mougins is situated between Cannes and Grasse on the road Napoleon. The old village was strengthened in the Middle Ages. The main economic activity of the 19th century was the floral production (rose and jasmine) for the perfumers of Grasse. From half of the 20th century, Mougins became the tourist and artistic Mecca of Côte d'Azur. Nowadays, Mougins welcomes on its territory about 20 % of the high-tech city of Sophia-Antipolis.

Grasse (12 km) is a nice city to visit. You can, while walking in the old town and its narrow alleys, visit its numerous museums
such as the International Museum of the Perfume shop, the Museum of Art of History of Provence and the Villa Jean - Honoré Fragonard museum . Thanks to an exceptional nature (jasmine, rose, lavender, orange tree, tuberose), Grasse became the city of the perfume. It so appears as the place indispensable to any nose in the novel " le Parfum ", written by Patrick Süskind. You can also discover the trade secrets by visiting local factories (Fragonard, Gallimard and Molinard).

Nice (30 km) It’s worth taking the time to discover Nice in depth : wander at random through the narrow streets of the old town and then stroll along the famous "Promenade" before entering into the heart of the city with its rich architectural and cultural heritage and its parks and gardens. Nice has a total of 19 museums and galleries, 32 classified historical monuments and 300 ha of parks and gardens, woodland and green areas in addition to 150 ornamental lakes and fountains. : Musée Matisse, Musée Chagall , Musée d'Arts asiatiques et MAMAC.

Monaco (60 km) is the smallest second independent State of the world after Vatican. The principality offers to the tourists numerous entertainments. The visit of the old town on the “Rocher” allows discovering the Princely Palace, the Cathedral and the oceanographic Museum with its famous aquarium. The district of Monte Carlo is famous for its Casino, the hotel of Paris, its Opera and its Ballets. That of Fontvieille shelters the stadium Louis-II where plays the football club of Monaco. The Principality also welcomes diverse sportive events such as the Grand Prix of Monaco, the Rally of Monte Carlo and the Tennis Open in Monte Carlo Country Club. For those who enjoy botanical gardens, they can visit the exotic Garden of Monaco quite particularly in May when cactuses are in flowers. Every winter, the city welcomes the International Festival of the Circus of Monaco.

Other Museums to discover and Leisure to practice

Renoir museum in Cagnes sur Mer (20km)

Maeght Foundation in St Paul de Vence (28km)

Aqualand in Fréjus (37km)