World City Guide

Sightseeing

Sightseeing Overview
The long, shop-studded stretch of La Croisette is Cannes’ central attraction, with 12km (7.5 miles) of beach. During the International Film Festival, stars and millionaires, who pose (friment) in restaurants and along the expensive private beaches of La Croisette, become a major attraction. La Croisette is best viewed from the highest point of Cannes’ Old Town, Le Suquet, where the remains of the fortified tower still stand, along with the 12th-century Chapel of St Anne. Le Suquet is a lovely place for tourists to stroll, with its winding streets, small boutiques and restaurants.

At the end of La Croisette is the Palais des Festivals, whose endless Alles des Stars is imprinted with handprints and signatures of the famous. Just beyond, is the atmospheric Vieux Port, with its odd medley of luxury boats and tiny fishing vessels, its rows of palm trees and fragrant flower market of the Alles de la Libert. Further west, along the seafront, are the free beaches, where the locals gather, along the Plages du Midi.

Tourist Information
Cannes Tourist Office
Palais des Festivals, La Croisette
Tel: (04) 9339 2453. Fax: (04) 9299 8423.
E-mail: tourisme@semec.com
Website: www.cannes-on-line.com
Opening hours: Daily 0900-2000 (summer); Mon-Sat 0900-1800 (winter).

Other branches are located in the SNCF Rail Station and at 1 avenue Pierre Smard, Cannes-La Bocca.

Passes
The Carte Muse or French Riviera Museum Pass (tel: (04) 9703 8220) allows free access to 62 of the Riviera’s museums, monuments and gardens including the Muse-Chapelle Bellini, Muse de la Castre, La Malmaison and Muse de la Mer. A three-day pass costs 15 and a seven-day pass costs 25. The card is available at participating museums, monuments and gardens, tourist offices, selected branches of Thomas Cook (Nice and Cannes) and FNAC department stores.