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The Mediterranean sun and sea really help to cultivate the festive spirit and lounging life that Cannes is so well-known for – as well as the palm trees that adorn the local landscape. Enjoy yourself! You’ll be truly spoiled between all of your choices - beaches, nightclubs, museums and galleries, festivals and shopping all year round.
La Croisette/ La Pointe Croisette
To begin with the white, sandy beaches, they may not be the biggest in the world, but they certainly have their advantages. Many of them, like Plage du Martinez, and Plage Calao, are private, which means they offer every imaginable service, from sun beds, umbrellas and refreshments to water skiing, para sailing, and jetskis for hire. And the water is of course blissfully warm, at least in the summer.
Jimmy'z is a rather upper class disco whose huge dance floor is just begging you bust a move, but for those who prefer a more highbrow form of entertainment, Cannes is also very culturally satisfying. The handful of museums in the town, while disappointing in number, are of uniformly high quality. On Boulevard de la Croisette, you’ll love to linger around Malmaison, a former private mansion dating back to the belle époque, featuring some excellent temporary art exhibitions.
Finally, Cannes is heaven for shopaholics, who will never tire of the countless boutiques on Rue d’Antibes and Boulevard de la Croisette, and will be enraptured by the big French labels like Chanel.
Centre-ville
After a long day of sunbathing and relaxation, it’s time for a bite to eat before getting ready to dance the night away in one of Cannes’ nightclubs, which are in plentiful supply. The Cat Corner attracts a diverse young crowd, always ready to party until dawn. It’s often where the regulars at Farfalla restaurant (where good humour and good company are the recipe for a great night out) end up. The atmosphere is also buzzing at Jane's Club at the Gray d'Albion Hotel.
Cannes also boasts a number of art galleries that rival any in France, such as the fine contemporary displays at Galerie de Cannes and Galerie Alexandre Léadouze.
But given that you’re in a film buff’s paradise – the International Film Festival has been running in Cannes for over 50 years – you might prefer to catch a movie. Cannes hasn’t yet been kitted out with enormous multiplexes, but the three main local cinemas–Arcades 3, Cinéma Star, and Olympia–are all fantastically placed in the center of town. Studio 13 is also well worth a visit; it shows classics, writer/director films and other movies that fall outside the commercial sphere.
And don’t forget that Cannes hosts festivals all year round: the world-renowned International Film Festival and the MIDEM (Marché International du Disque, de l’Edition Musicale) music festival are just a few of the events held here annually.
If you're in town in September don't miss the Festival de la Plaisance (Pleasure Boat Festival), and if you're looking for some chic new clothes then Zara is a good place to start.
Le Suquet
At the summit of Le Suquet – the old town on the hill – stands Musée de la Castre, a museum which boasts a panoramic view of the city and its surroundings, as well as collections focusing on Mediterranean archaeology and musical instruments from all over the world. Just next door is the church of Notre-Dame de l’Espérance with its intriguing commemorative plaques made by locals giving thanks to the Virgin Mary for prayers answered.
Iles de Lérins
Make sure you cross the shores to the island of Sainte-Marguerite, where you can visit the actual prison where the well-known Man in the Iron Mask was held. Incarcerated without trial by order of King Louis XIV, the true identity of this prisoner is still a mystery which continues to puzzle historians. Was he an unknown elder brother of the King? Had he learned that Louis XIV was unable to have children–something which would jeopardize his lineage? Speculation is endless. Also on the island is a significant collection of nautical pieces at the Musée de la Mer (Maritime Museum); don't miss the newly restored Roman frescoes.
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