about cannes
Cannes (French pronunciation: [kan], in Occitan Canas) France , is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera , a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival . The population was 70,400 as of the 2007 census. Cannes is the home of numerous luxurious houses and mansions as well as many high-end gated communities . The city is also famous for its various luxury shops, fancy restaurants, and prestigious hotels.
Festivals and show events
- The Cannes Film Festival (French: le Festival international du film de Cannes or simply le Festival de Cannes), founded in 1939, is held annually, usually in May.
- Midem , the foremost trade show for the music industry
- Mipim, the worlds largest property-related trade show
- Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival
- 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).
- Festival de la Plaisance 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.( http://www.iltm.net )
- Le Festival d’Art Pyrotechnique is a magnificent annual fireworks competition held in the summer at the Bay 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
Main Shows: 2010
24-28 Jan MIDEM
16-19 March MIPIM
12-16 April MIPTV
12-23 May FILM FESTIVAL
20-26 June INTERNATIONAL LIONS
17-22 October TAX FREE
17-19 October MAPIC
Theater and music
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.
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.
The villas of Cannes
Nineteenth-century Cannes 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. 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. Another landmark is the Villa Fiésole (known today as the Villa Domergue) designed by Jean-Gabriel Domergue in the style of Fiesole, near Florence . The villas are not open to the public. Villa Domergue may be visited on appointment.
Île Sainte-Marguerite (St Marguerite Island)
It took "The Man in the Iron Mask" 11 years to leave this tiny, forested 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 (first 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 AD410 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’s edge. The monks divide their time between prayer and producing red and white wines.
Weather
The climate is Mediterranean and the city enjoys 12 hours of sunshine per day during summer (May to September), while in winter (December to February) the weather is mild. Both seasons see a relatively low rainfall and most rain is during October and November, when 110 mm falls.
Summer
Cannes summers are long and warm, with summer daytime temperatures regularly hitting 30°C, while average temperatures are about 25°C. Temperatures remain high from June to September, the busiest time of the year. Despite the hot daytime temperatures, a Mediterranean breeze keeps summer evenings comfortably cool.
Winters
Temperatures drop below 10°C 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.
La Croisette is the waterfront avenue with palm trees. La Croisette is known for picturesque beaches and for restaurants, cafés and boutiques. La 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 . The Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned on the Île Sainte-Marguerite .
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport
Located 24 km (15 mi) from Cannes, Nice Côte d’Azur Airport has close to 10 million passengers a year. The smaller Cannes - Mandelieu Airport is also nearby.
By car
From Paris, the journey takes 8 hours via the A8 motorway; from Monaco and Nice, the same road provides access from the opposite direction.
By rail
TGV rail services provide access from major French cities. Other cities with rail connections include Brussels (6 hours), Milan (5 hours), Basel (10 hours), Rome (10 hours) and Venice (10 hours).
By bus
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 .
By ferry (in Nice harbour)
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.
