Cannes



Cannes is a city in the Alpes-Maritimes department in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur in southeastern 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 stores, fancy restaurants, and prestigious hotels.

HISTORY OF CANNES
A former Lord Chancellor of England, Lord Brougham, is credited with having "invented" Cannes when he was detained there while on a trip to Italy in 1834, because a quarantine order prevented him from crossing the River Var into Nice. Milord Brougham, a former Chancellor of all England, so liked the place that he built himself an Italianate villa on a hill just outside the town and persuaded those friends who would listen to live there too, especially during the winters as the climate was so mild. Others also built themselves palatial homes, and the village became a town and prospered. Lord Brougham placed it on record when he wrote that he had "been enjoying the delightful climate of Provence, its clear skies and refreshing breezes, while the deep blue of the The Mediterranean stretched before us. The orange groves perfumed the air while the forest behind, ending in the Alps, protected us from the cold winds of the north."

Forty-five years later, such was his influence on his friends and others, that Cannes had acquired many spacious villas, almost fifty hotels and a thriving market in house-and-estate-building. On the centenary of his birth the citizens of Cannes unveiled a statue of him and celebrated with a week of festivities including flower shows and regattas. Fashionable gentry from Queen Victoria's court visited for holidays, and not wishing to offend them, the citizens discontinued some of their long- established customs, such as carrying the dead, uncovered, through the streets before burial. Thus the formerly poor fishing village of Cannes, happy at the resulting prosperity, and needing a symbol of its new fame as a resort for aristos, adopted Lord Brougham, and built their statue of him in bronze. By this time, people were coming to the Côte d'Azur for their health because the climate was so friendly all the year round. But as the word got out people started to arrive purely for pleasure - and as their numbers grew, so the local builders and entrepreneurs saw their opportunity and built fabulous hotels that were very ornate with palm courts and an endless menu. For those who could afford it, opulent villas were built in the style of Russian Trianons and Indian palaces. Plants were introduced which seemed appropriate for the area. From Africa came eucalyptus, from Australia mimosa, and in 1864 the Phoenix Canariensis was introduced better known as the palm tree - without which any Film Festival interview would not be complete.

More informations about the History of Cannes on the Cannes !

'''A General Overview of the Cannes area
(Thanks to this post)


 * 1) The Suquet: known as old town, is the historic area of Cannes, it is where the bus station is and also has many restaurants, which most are not cheap. It has one street near the bus station that goes up the hill, no cars allowed with restaurant after restaurant. Also the Forville outdoor Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Market is open most mornings. Be advised the prices even here are not cheap. The best place in the Suquet to shop is Rue Meynadier. The best Italian Restaurant in Cannes is in the Suquet and is called La Piazza.
 * 2) The Croisette: Is along the beach and has The Palais where most of the Festivals take place. It also has very expensive shops and restaurants, some in luxury hotels whose menus do not have prices, because if you saw them you would faint. Also many of the beaches in this area are private, owned by the hotels and often there are private parties held on these beaches.
 * 3) Cannes Centre: Where the Rue d'Antibes, the main shopping boulevard of Cannes is located. This street has more shops, stores and restaurants than almost any shopping boulevard I know. Many of them are not cheap, but it is nowheres as expensive as the Croisette and can't compete for the bargains you find on Meynadier. Gambetta Square near the train station has some good prices at its morning fresh fruit and vegetable market, but the better prices are in the flea market next to it that sells everything from clothing to flowers and cheeses. The best deal as far a restaurant food in Cannes can be found at Saveurs du Chef at the end of the Rue d'Antibes.
 * 4) The Californie: Is a beautiful hilly region just after the Fountain separating the Banane region from the expensive villas in the northest of Cannes.
 * 5) The Palm Beach: Area is a Pennisula jutting out south at the end of the Banane and has some very nice views and a large Casino which holds late night events during some of the festivals.
 * 6) La Bocca: Is west of Suguet and has a lot of public beaches, including volleyball courts and other recreation. La Bocca is an area that is cheaper to live, but does not have the feel and influence of Cannes Centre.
 * 7) Le Cannet: North of Cannes Centre and the Banane has the Boulevard Carnot as its main street which moves north into a very highly populated part of Cannes. This is where most of the people live and where most of the schools and other facilities for the public are. Like in La Bocca things are cheaper in Le Cannet.

More informations about the places to visit in Cannes on the Cannes and even the Official Website of the Office of Tourism !

Free Internet/Wifi Access
Here are some places where you can get some Internet/Wifi Access:


 * Association Cannes Jeunesse-BIJ - Adress: 5 quai Saint-Pierre - Tel: 04 93 06 31 21
 * espace mimont - Adress: 5 rue mimont - Tel: 04.92.99.77.77
 * Association Logis des Jeunes de Provence - Adress: 5 rue Mimont 06400 Cannes - Tel: 04.92.99.77.77

COUCHSURFERS
There are about 250 Couchsurfers in Cannes and its area. You can check the CS Group of Cannes or simply a couchsearch to find and contact them.

Meetings
There are sometimes some meetings organised in Cannes, just check the CS Group of Cannes to see what happen in the city and/or the Regional CS Group of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur to see if there is any event in the area.

In the summer (actually May onwards until September) keep a lookout for weekly Beach Volley/Picnic meetings. These are generally held on Fridays evenings at the Boulevard du Midi. (Map link)

Coffee or a Drink
Here is a list of persons who are ready to have a drink with you and/or show you the city:

How to get to Cannes

 * By Car:
 * By carpooling: You can find a driver or passenger to share the ride and cut on travel cost. In France carpooling is very popular and is called "covoiturage". Try Envoiture.fr''' to get to Cannes.
 * By Train:
 * By Plane:
 * By boot:

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY


Tel: 17 Tel: 15 Urgences Hôpital - Tel :+33 (0)4 93 69 71 50 Tel: 18 SOS médecins / Emergency medical service - Tel :+33 (0)8 25 00 50 04
 * Police Station:
 * Health Urgency:
 * Hospital:
 * Fireman Station:
 * Embassy:
 * Emergency Doctor:

INTERESTED LINKS
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
 * Regional CS Group: Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur
 * City CS Group: Cannes


 * Cannes on Wikivoyage
 * Cannes on Hitchwiki
 * Cannes on Wikipedia