Although Cannes is known to everyone, it is a relatively small city. Its most interesting sights can be seen in a short time. But for this you need to carefully plan the route, figure out where the cafes are in order to have a snack and relax a little. It is best to seek the help of a professional guide who will organize your trip around the city according to your wishes. What to see in Cannes in 1 day? Let's talk about the most interesting places.
Archangel Michael Church
For a long time, on the vast lands of the French Riviera, there was only one Russian Orthodox church - in Nice. Finally, in 1886, Alexandra Tripé built a small church at her villa. Soon she could no longer accommodate everyone who wanted to pray. When, three years later, the Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna arrived in the city together with her entourage, it became clear that the problem needed to be solved.
Archpriest Grigory Ostroumov began to bother about the construction of the temple. A plot of land was allocated, patrons began to donate money. In 1894, a church was laid in honor of the Archangel Michael. The parishioners donated valuable things to him: church utensils made of gold and silver, expensive banners, old icons painted by famous French artists.
Until now, the main decoration of the church is the icon-painting by Lemott, depicting the Mother of God with the Child, the Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir and the Holy Princess Olga. The French architect Nouveau was in charge of the construction work, and by 1894 the new church had opened its doors. Up to 400 people could pray here. Today the temple is a wonderful historical monument worth seeing.
Martinez beach
Martinez beach - the largest on the Croisette - is private and belongs to the hotel of the same name. Fine white sand and well-developed infrastructure attract both locals and visitors to Cannes. Here you can see 4 hundred sun loungers and a modern pontoon that juts out into the sea. The rental price is quite high, because the hotel is considered fashionable.
For a sunbed installed on the pontoon, you will have to pay - in terms of domestic currency - about 2 thousand rubles. A place on the shore will cost a little less. Opportunities for practicing water sports have been created; there is a restaurant that is famous for its cuisine. The priority here is given to Mediterranean cuisine and seafood dishes.
In the evenings, tables are also arranged on the pontoon: you can order snacks, wine and sit here. And yet the main thing for which tourists come here is that celebrities very often come to this beach. As a rule, they allow themselves to be photographed, and sometimes even give autographs.
Barriere Les Princes Casino
The famous gambling house is open daily. It opens at 10 am and closes at 3-4 am, depending on the day of the week. You can visit the casino from the age of 18. There is a common room and a special VIP-zone (if you want to place higher rates in the game). The currency is the euro. In the casino, you will see 21 tables for games.
There are English roulette, Texas hold'em, sic bo and other popular games, as well as over 300 modern slot machines. If you are a beginner, inexperienced in games, it is recommended to start with them. You can risk a small amount, but you will fully experience the excitement that all visitors of this establishment feel.
The casino was designed by the designer Pascal Desprez: he set the task as the first place - to give the casino a luxurious look. To do this, he used dim lights and contrasting tones. Magnificent draperies, golden leather, carpets - all this makes an unforgettable impression. Therefore, it is worth coming here just for the sake of admiring the atmosphere. Besides, there is a good chance that you will meet some of the famous people here.
Church of Our Lady of the Good Way
This temple is located in the city center, not far from the Palace of Festivals. Once upon a time, in the 16th century, there was a chapel on this site. It was built so that the inhabitants of the city could pray for deliverance from the plague epidemic. People called her "Our Lady of the Sands", because there were dunes nearby. Fishermen's huts huddled around a modest chapel. And here Napoleon set up his camp when he fled from Elba.
From here began his triumphal journey to Paris, the famous "100 days". Cannes then went over to Napoleon's side without resistance. The fishermen also prayed in the chapel before going to sea. Therefore, such a name was born. The church itself was built at the end of the 19th century, in 1879.
Gray stone was used for its construction. The architect Laurent Vianet adhered to the strict neo-Romanesque style. But funds were scarce. So the bell tower and 2 more towers were never built. You can see very beautiful stained glass windows inside the church. It was in this temple that many noble persons who lived in Cannes were crowned and buried.
Palace of Festivals and Congresses
The palace resembles a huge beautiful cruise ship. It looks especially impressive in May, when the world famous film festival takes place. The wide staircase is covered with a red carpet; people come here to meet celebrities.
The rest of the time you will not see carpets here, and instead of movie stars, ordinary tourists pose in front of cameras. The palace is one of the main attractions of France; it is inextricably linked with the history of world cinema. The Avenue of Stars is also located here. On the tiles, made of metal, you can see the handprints of the most famous film actors.
The Festival Palace was built in 1982 by architects Drouet and Bennet. Its area exceeds 28 thousand m2. Going out onto the terraces of the upper floors, you can see the city embankment, islands, the old, historical part of the city. The Palace hosts film screenings, conferences, exhibitions. It also houses a restaurant, a nightclub and a casino with roulette and slot machines.
Avenue of Stars
You may not immediately notice the Avenue of Stars located next to the Festival Palace. There are no trees or other plantings here. On the esplanade of Georges Pompidou, on the sidewalk, you will see tiles with handprints. This is the famous Alley. There are analogues of it in other countries as well.
For example, in the USA, in Hollywood. But there it all looks catchy, bright, and here the appearance of the tiles is very modest. Residents of the city complain that the tiles can be walked on, and over time they are destroyed from this. Famous people who come to the city leave their handprints on the clay. The casts are sent to Vallauris, cast in plaster, and then - in the foundry - the corresponding reliefs are made from steel.
The plaster original is preserved in the Festival Palace. Here you can see the handprints of Charlie Chaplin and Sophia Loren, Jean-Paul Belmondo and Catherine Deneuve, Sharon Stone and Tatiana Samoilova. The alley was opened in 1985 and today houses the handprints of more than 400 movie stars, directors and other celebrities.
Childhood Museum
There are not many places in Cannes to go with children. Basically, people come here to enjoy a beach holiday, visit nightclubs and casinos. But there is a very unusual museum here, a visit to which will bring joy to both children and their parents. This is the Museum of Childhood. Most of the dolls are presented here - about 600 items.
These are antique toys that date back to the era of Napoleon III. That is, they are about 3 centuries old. There are exhibits of a later period. As well as doll clothes, shoes, furniture. And other interesting things that our imagination so easily connects with the world of childhood.Here you can find out a lot of interesting information about the processes of making dolls, about the life of French puppeteers.
Toys have their own stories, and they will tell you here too. The museum has been operating for several decades, and its visitors include both adults and children. You can come here every day, except Sundays and Mondays (weekends) from 14:00 to 18:00.
Chapel of Mercy
This is one of the oldest buildings in Cannes. The chapel is located next to the Forville market. It was built either at the end of the 16th or at the beginning of the 17th century. The Chapel of Mercy is small: it is about 26m long and about 9m wide. Its architecture is simple, even harsh. The only bright spot is the spire on the low bell tower. It is decorated with glazed tiles. At first, this building had a longer name - the chapel was dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy on the Sea Coast.
After some time, this name was given to the church, and the name of the chapel was reduced to the modern one. Another name is the chapel of the Black Penitents, after the brotherhood, which was disbanded in the 19th century. Then in France there were enough fraternities, named according to different colors. They preached asceticism, repentance, abstinence. The chapel is active, there are masses in Latin. Inside, the interior is just as simple and austere. Entrance from the street of Mercy.
Forville Market
Be sure to visit this market, then you will feel the real spirit of France. It works every day, except Monday, from 7 am to midnight. To buy the highest quality product, it is better to come in the morning, but in the evening you can hope for a discount. Here you can buy whatever your heart desires. Freshly cut flowers, as well as seeds and bulbs, meat and fish, cheeses and vegetables, spices and overseas fruits.
If you speak French, it is worth bargaining, they will meet you halfway and reduce the price. The atmosphere in the market is so welcoming that you simply cannot leave here without shopping. They will give you a wine or cheese tasting, give you seed samples, tell you from which country certain fruits were brought. The famous market gives the impression of a veritable cornucopia.
Products - for every taste and budget. Here you can buy delicacies or just greens for a salad. But you will get an unforgettable experience. If you are in your car, remember, there is a parking lot next to the market. The surrounding streets are also very picturesque, it is worth wandering along them, admiring the old houses, and sitting in a cafe.
Church of Our Lady of Good Hope
The old Catholic church is located at the top of the Suquet hill. Cannes residents can see its bell tower from afar. Previously, there was only one small church (the former chapel of St. Anne), and in the 16th century it became small for Catholics who wanted to hear Mass. They wanted to build a new church in a few years, but in fact this process took more than a century.
The reason for this was plague epidemics and numerous wars. The new church was able to receive the first parishioners only in 1641. It was built in the Gothic style of brown stone. A rectangular bell tower stands out, on which you can see the clock. The interior decoration is also strict. But there are beautiful frescoes by Georges Roux and gilded statues of the Virgin Mary (18th century) and Saint Anne (15th century).
In June, musicians are located on the porch of the temple - the popular Suquet Musical Nights festival takes place here. You can not only listen to beautiful melodies, but also admire the opening panorama - a view of the city from above. At Christmas, a Nativity scene is exhibited here, which will delight not only children, but also their parents. Viewers will see how day changes to night, how angels fly and pets walk. In a word, the sacred history definitely comes to life.
Galerie 1414
It is here that you can buy the most unusual gifts for loved ones. The gallery presents contemporary painting. And the artist Coco Trabishe owns it. You can admire some canvases, while others can be purchased. The paintings are painted in different genres. There are landscapes, still lifes, and portraits. In some cases, you can even order a canvas on a particular topic. Painting by French artists has a special charm, and no doubt, the works acquired here will become a decoration for your home or office.
Museum de la Castres
The museum is located on the Suquet hill, in an old castle. Little is left of the first castle built here by monks in the 11th century. Practically, some ruins. They were not completely demolished only because the walls were too thick, and the work would have required considerable effort. What you can see Travelers Gin de la Cloche and Baron Lyklama, the cultural center owes its exhibits found during excavations of the ancient cities of Egypt, Greece and Rome.
The art of the aborigines of Australia, Africa, America is also represented here. The paintings of the artists who lived in Provence in the 18-19th centuries are also impressive. Their canvases capture landscapes and moments of city life. And in the church of St. Anne, you can admire musical instruments - an extensive collection includes exotic exhibits. The road leading to the museum is also beautiful. She goes through a picturesque park. While in the castle, do not miss the opportunity to climb the tower and admire the panorama of the city.
Quay Saint Pierre and the Old Port
Saint Pierre is the oldest part of the Old Port. Built in the middle of the 19th century, Cannes was then a small fishing village. Today you can still see boats of fishermen here. But next to them are yachts that belong to rich and famous people. In total, up to 500 small ships can find shelter here. It was thanks to the arrangement of the port in the 30s of the 19th century that Cannes began to develop rapidly.
Then the Chancellor of England Peter Broome stayed in Cannes because of the cholera epidemic. He liked the town so much that he built a house for himself here, and - at the request of local residents - laid the port. And already in 1838, the Saint-Pierre embankment appeared. In 1898, Prince Albert Edward laid the first stone at the base of the pier. The future king of England made Cannes his seat.
Yachts of noble persons began to arrive here. Since the 1920s, every year the prestigious competition “Royal Regatta” has been held here. The best athletes in the world are taking part. Cannes has become an elite yet popular resort. You can also take a boat from the port and go on a trip to the Lerinsky Islands.
Cemetery Gran Jas
One of the most famous cemeteries in France.It is worth coming here not only to bow to the famous graves. The cemetery has long been transformed into a beautiful park, and many of the monuments are true works of art. The cemetery is located in the north-west of the city, and it appeared here in the middle of the 19th century. Its area is quite extensive - about 9 hectares. The most correct decision would be to look into the administrative office at the cemetery and hire a guide here.
Otherwise, you might miss the fun part. For example, the grave of Prosper Merimee. Of course, tourists from Russia are primarily interested in the graves of compatriots. On the "Russian site" you will see many crypts. In one of them lies the family of Sergei Pavlovich Chekhov. You cannot leave and see the final resting place of the famous Carl Faberge, the author of unique jewelry.
Buried here and Olga Picasso - the first wife of the great artist. And also the pilot Nikolai Popov, who was the first to master new routes at the beginning of the 20th century. There are also Russian soldiers who died of wounds received during the battles in the First World War. The cemetery itself is a real museum; the guide can tell you more than one story. Locals come here to walk along picturesque paths, enjoy peace and quiet and once again bow to great people.
Saint Marguerite
This boat trip will be very interesting.The island is quite small - about 3 km wide, but there are many attractions here. First of all, this is the chapel of St. Margaret of Antioch, which was built by order of the knights-crusaders. In addition, they talk about a certain Saint Margaret, who during her lifetime led the nuns living here.
Historians do not exclude that this is a fictional character. At the beginning of the 17th century, the Duke of Chevreuse became the owner of the island. Fort Royal began to be built here, later the French and Spaniards fiercely fought for it. The French took it back to themselves, and the fort became a prison. The surrounding population lived well, just due to the fact that it was supposed to meet the needs of the garrison located in the fort. It was here that the famous prisoner, the Iron Mask, languished for 11 years.
Who was he? Brother of King Louis 14th or his illegitimate son? The riddle has never been solved. The only one who escaped from the island was Marshal Bazin. In addition, you can visit the Museum of the Sea, look into the village where fishermen live, and take a walk in the botanical garden, where unusual trees with curved trunks grow. Please note that smoking is prohibited on this island.
Thus, even in one day in Cannes, you can see a lot. And, of course, after taking such a long walk and getting to know the main sights, you will love this wonderful city forever.
