Cannes, in the south of France, is world renown for its International Film Festival. This glamorous city is considered as the entertainment hub of the privileged and many celebrities. Cannes is an expensive place to stay, but if you are traveling with a Eurail Pass you can make an easy day trip from Nice, which has a good selection of budget accommodation.
History of Cannes
Cannes was once known as a fishing village and was utilized as a port during the 2nd century. It was, however, the venue of the war between the Vitellius and the Othos in 69 AD. Its name has gone through a lot of changes starting from Canua in the 10th century, which came from the word “canna”, meaning reed. In 891, Saracens invaded the surroundings of Canua pushing the monks to transfer to Canua and settle there. This resulted to the building of the castle in 1035.
The place was also made stronger and sturdier as a precautionary measure against any form of attack. By then, the place’s name was changed to Cannes. In 1530, Cannes gained its independence from the monks. In the 18th century, the British and the Spaniards tried to dominate the place but the French were able to guard its territory. The 19th century was the start of the city’s improvement and development with the building of railways. After which, several hotels started to pop up all over the city.
Today, the city has become synonymous with the International Film Festival, one of the world most popular and influential.
Things to Do in Cannes
The city of Cannes oozes with glamour and sophistication. Its port is filled with yachts owned by a lot of the world’s privileged, if not of France’s alone. The Old town is decorated with souvenir shops and restaurants with the castle’s view from afar as an excellent backdrop. The private beaches may be quite expensive but the tranquillity that it offers will definitely give you your money’s worth. A walk through Cannes’ La Croisette can open a tourist’s eyes to the sights and sounds of the city, with hotels and boutique shops sprawling all over the place.
Other tourist attractions are Villa Rothschild, a luxurious villa adorned with an exotic garden and supported by pink marble columns; the Olympia, the biggest multi-screen cinema in the whole of Cannes; the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, Tour du Masque and the Plage du Martinez.
How To Get To Cannes
The closest airport is Nice, which serves the Côte d’Azur region.
Cannes train station is in the heart of the city. There are services to the west (towards Marseille) and east (towards Nice, Monaco and Italy). National and regional train services, as well as high-speed trains (TGV) service Cannes. Travel with a Eurail Pass to see Cannes and the best of the Côte d’Azur.
Resources: Cannes Tourism
[Guest post by www.eurailtravels.com. Visit Cannes with a Eurail Pass.]
Follow itravelnet.com