Cannes
The most famous French summer resort on the Mediteranean sea, Cannes can boast being known across the world. With a year round population of just over 70 000 inhabitants and spanning just under 20 square kilometers, this coastal town benefits from a wonderful climate and has become a very sought after destination.
Landmarks include the ‘Chateau du Suquet’ built in the year 1035 by Monks to fortify the town, from which you have a panoramic view of the bay of Cannes. The ‘Iles de Lerins’ composed of ‘Ile Sainte Marguerite’, the larger island where the Man in the Iron Mask was held captive for 11 years. His cell can be visited in the Musee de la Mer (Museumof the Sea). l’Ile Sainte Honorat, the smaller of the two main islands, inhabited, to this day, by Cisterian Monks since AD410. The Monastary welcomes guests for short stays. There are two smaller uninhabited islets, Saint Ferreol and La Tradeliere.
The world famous Palais des Festivals hosts numerous congresses and festivals during the year, the most notorious being the International Film Festival which attracts all the movie stars from around the world to Cannes for twelve days in May creating a unique atmosphere. The MIPIM exhibition where real estate developers from across the planet expose their latest projects to potential investors. The MIPCOM, International Film and Program Market for Television, Video, Cable and Satellite that takes place in October. The MIDEM, the Worlds music market is hosted in January. All in all, there are around 11 exhibitions or festivals a year. This economic activity has generated a great deal of real estate investment in the center of Cannes. Indeed, there are generally not enough hotel rooms to cater for the demand during the major exhibitions and the peak summer periods. There are many apartments for rent in the center of Cannes, the area known as ‘La Banane’, located between the Croisette and the ring road where the prices per square meter for purchase vary from 4000 to over 20 000 euros for prime locations. Another prime location is the Palm Beach area with its Casino and Nightclubs.
The sandy beaches of La Croisette and to the West ‘les plages du Midi’ are ideal for summer getaways, places where you can enjoy shaded Mediteranean lunches, relaxation under the sun, having fun with all the water sport activities on offer, or just a cool dip every morning before a stroll in the streets of Cannes for some window shopping. One can find a wide range of shops including the famous boutiques on the Croisette such as Gucci, Chanel, and Dior. The Croisette is also host to world renound Palaces, notably the Carlton, the Majestic, and the Hotel Martinez.
Cannes has two hills that overlook the bay, to the East, the Californie, to the West, the Croix des Gardes. These areas are prime residential neighborhoods and one can find the finest villas and apartments with the most spectacular views of Cannes, the Meditarenean, the islands, and the Esterel hills to the West.