Cannes
Cannes (Canas in Provençal) (pronounced "can") is a city in southern France, located on the French Riviera, in the Alpes-Maritimes département. Its population (as of 2000) is approximately 70,000.
Environs
Cannes lies on the Côte d'Azur within easy reach of the Maritime Alps. It is noted for its sandy beaches (in contrast to Nice), which interestingly are mainly public, particularly as one moves west to Cannes Bocca.
Transport
Cannes lies on the main rail line from Italy to Marseilles and is well served by the TGV, inter-regional and regional trains. The SNCF station is close to the centre; buses leave from both here and the Hotel de Ville.
The town centre is served by an electric bus system - E-LO - whilst an open top beachside bus service links the Hotel de Ville and the Palm Beach Casino.
History
From the Middle Ages until the early 19th century, Cannes was a small agricultural and fishing village. Beginning in the 1830s, foreign and French aristocrats built vacation homes in the area, gradually turning Cannes into a resort town.
The man responsible for Cannes' growth is Lord Henry Peter Brougham (1778-1868). A respected and talented British politician at his time, he discovered Cannes in 1834, on his way to Italy. After having bought land to the west of the Suquet he used his many contacts in French politics to help develop the French Riviera.
Economy
The area around Cannes has developed into a high-tech cluster. The technopolis of Sophia-Antipolis lies up in the hills beyond Cannes.
The annual Cannes Film Festival is a major event for the world film industry.
Cannes also hosts the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.
See also
