Schmap Cannes Historical Background

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Cannes - Historical Background
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Invasions, conquests and uprisings punctuate the history of Cannes, which before the 19th century was nothing more than a simple Mediterranean fishing village. The arrival of Lord Brougham in 1834, prompting an influx of British and Russian aristocrats wishing to take advantage of the town's warm winter climate, brought the town the fame and fortune it enjoys today. Ever thriving, Cannes has played host to the renowned International Film Festival since 1946, and is now the choice location for staging many a prestigious event.

Aegitna

The first apparent civilization to inhabit Cannes dates right back to the 2nd century BC, when today's movie-star playground was settled by the Oxybian tribe from Liguria – an arm of the Mediterranean conquered by Rome in 14 BC – bearing the name Aegitna. At this time, Aegitna was a poor and simple fishing village that served as a stopping point between the Lérins Islands (around 1km southeast of Cannes) and dry land. Life in Aegitna was idyllically uneventful until the bloody battle between the troops of Othos and Vitellius in the year 69 AD, each aspiring to the power of the Roman emperor. The era of conquest thus began and it was not until the 9th century that the wave of brutal foreign invasions ceased.

Cannes

In the 10th century, the village fell under the sway of the Abbaye de Lérins (Lérins Abbey, founded in the 5th century). Once the invaders had been expelled, the Counts of Provence actually handed over the small edifice crowning the summit of Le Suquet hill (the old town district of present-day Cannes) to the abbot, exempting him from taxation and making him ruler. To better defend the village, the monks built a fortified castle on this site – the Château de la Castre (now home to the museum of the same name), and the village rallied around it. It was also during this period that the siege tower of Ile St Honorat and the great tower of Cannes were constructed. Then, in 1035, the name “Cannes” appeared for the first time in official documentation. Various theories about the origins of Cannes' name have been proposed, the most plausible of which is perhaps that the town was named after the abundant reeds (cannae) which surrounded the early settlement.

Plague

Come the 14th-century, the Plague was rife in the region, closely followed by a bout of pirating and bandit invasions. But thanks in part to the abbey's benevolent protection of town and townsfolk, Cannes survived. Plague struck again in the 16th century, this time even more deadly than the first, and from this point on, the history of Cannes gradually blended into the broader history of the Provençal region to which it belongs, and which was itself in the process of annexation by France. With this, the influence of Lérins began to wane.

17th & 18th Centuries

By the 17th century, the village had grown to support some 600 houses, and the Notre-Dame parish church was built. The Spanish did manage to invade one of the Lérins islands, the Isle de Sainte-Marguerite, but were eventually driven out by French troops. The 18th century witnessed the comings and goings of various invaders, and in 1771, an exceptionally harsh winter ravaged the region, the corresponding high price of bread provoking the people into revolt. At around the same time, maritime trade began to occupy a more important place in the town's economy. One result of the French Revolution in 1789 was the division of the country into départements (local administrative units), and Grasse became the chef-lieu (governmental centre, equivalent to a county seat) of the Cannes region.

Arrival of Lord Brougham

Apart from Napoleon's brief passage through Cannes on escaping from exile on the Isle of Elba in March 1815, the major event of the 19th century was Lord Brougham's legendary arrival in the town – a story worth telling. In December 1834, the English Peer and deputy Whig famous for championing rights to freedom (especially the abolition of slavery in the colonies), decided to winter in Nice, around 30 km away. Contrary to his plans, his trip ended a few kilometres short of his destination at Saint-Laurent-du-Var, where the river Var had been closed to prevent the spread of cholera. And so the Lord Chancellor of England, despite his valiant attempts to continue, had no choice but to turn back. Legend has it that his decision to stay on was clinched by a hearty bouillabaisse (a regional speciality of fish soup) and a comfortable bed at the only inn in the area, Auberge Pinchinat, no longer in existence. Lord Brougham was so taken by this lovely site, its friendly inhabitants and gentle climate that he decided to go no further. He had a castle built for him here, which he named after his recently deceased daughter – Château Eléonor, where he spent the rest of his days. Following his example and attracted by the exceptional natural beauty and mild climate, a wave of British expatriates soon began flooding into Cannes. From its beginnings as a provincial village, Cannes soon gained recognition as the Mecca of holiday resorts. Its growth was dazzling, with less than 4000 inhabitants in 1834 and some 20,000 in 1896. At the end of the 19th century, tourism was already the main economic activity.

Prestigious Guests & International Film Festival

The once peaceful little fishing village began to welcome prestigious guests such as writers Prosper Mérimée and Oscar Wilde, great aristocrats and personalities including the Countess of Oxford, Lord Russell, Baron Haussmann, the Rothschilds, and even the King of Prussia. Every winter, an international élite disembarked here to languish in this haven of peace. Their presence encouraged many developments such as the appearance of La Croisette along the waterfront where they would stroll, elegance on show, their faces hidden behind parasols to preserve their pale complexions. By the 1930s, the parasols vanished as a healthy tan became stylish, and Cannes' place as a fashionable destination was secured. Even though fears of sun damage to the skin has reversed this trend again, people still flock to Cannes, and you can still admire the furs and riches on parade along La Croisette, as the town retains a special place in the hearts of the rich and famous. Meanwhile, theInternational Film Festival, now more than fifty years old (the first one in 1946 was an unprecedented success in which unforgettable French actress Michèle Morgan took the award for best actress) , has lost none of its ability to attract stars, starlets, and groupies. It is undeniably a major international event in the world of the silver screen, such that Cannes since specializes in organising important exhibitions and events like MIDEM and MIPTV. It yields little to mass tourism so as to favour the more distinguished guests in the ranks of celebrities, artists and wealthy businessmen… Today, as in the 19th century, Cannes is the epitome of chic.

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Cannes Film Festival

Prestigious Film Festival

Esplanade Georges Pompidou
Palais des Festivals
Cannes, Alpes-Côte d'Azur 06400
France
+33 1 5359 6100
http://www.festival-cannes.com

Stars from all over the world gather at Cannes for this prestigious film festival. Each evening famous actors and directors climb the stairways outside the Palais des Festivals. You can find some of the hottest film stars, such as Sharon Stone, Nicole Kidman, and Tom Cruise attending this festival. Films from all over the globe are screened at this festival in ten different categories. The most prestigious award at the festival is the 'Palme d'Or'. Formal evening attire is the mandatory dress code for attending any screening. A note of advice: dress well throughout the festival, as the paparazzi love to click pretty faces and elegantly dressed people.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Cannes Film Festival photo by Ivan Ethan Loh

Photo: Ivan Ethan Loh

Cannes Film Festival photo by Cathleen Jones

Photo: Cathleen Jones

Cannes Film Festival photo by Adrian Bailon

Photo: Adrian Bailon

Cannes Film Festival photo by Stephanie Williams

Photo: Stephanie Williams

Cannes Film Festival photo by Alfred Chan

Photo: Alfred Chan

Cannes Film Festival photo by Adrian Leung

Photo: Adrian Leung

Cannes Film Festival photo by Lee Swanson

Photo: Lee Swanson

Cannes Film Festival photo by jeremy bourgouin

Photo: jeremy bourgouin

Cannes Film Festival photo by George Dunkley

Photo: George Dunkley

Cannes Film Festival photo by Melannie Murray

Photo: Melannie Murray

Cannes Film Festival photo by Joelle Finck

Photo: Joelle Finck

Cannes Film Festival photo by divxplanet

Photo: divxplanet

Cannes Film Festival photo by Chechu Manson

Photo: Chechu Manson

Photo: Andy Ngan

Cannes Film Festival photo by phillipacarl

Photo: phillipacarl

Photo: jmeg_48

Cannes Film Festival photo by katesnelling@verizon.net

Photo: katesnelling@verizon.net

Photo: Tim Hardy

Island of St-Honorat

Excursion to Lérins islands Island St Honorat
Cannes, Alpes-Côte d'Azur 06406
France
+33 4 9299 5400 Rich in monastic tradition and history, the smallest and most distant of the two Lérins islands (1500m long by 400m wide and some 3km in circumference) used to be called Lérina. It has fertile soil and magnificent trees, notably Aleppo pines. A reef protects the south side of the island against the sea. Once on the island, make sure you visit the abbey Notre-Dame de Lérins, its main attraction.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Stephanie Tomlinson
Photo: Laura Johnson
Photo: Paul Roberts

La Castre Museum

Art, Antiques and more Le Suquet
Cannes, Alpes-Côte d'Azur 06400
France
+33 4 9338 5526
http://www.cannes.fr Opened in 1952, Musée de la Castre truly strives to promote art. Its collections reflect the interests of 19th-century archaeologists, ethnographers, antiques enthusiasts and art lovers. You'll find an impressive collection of Mediterranean artifacts from Egypt, Greece, Rome, Mesopotamia, Iran, Syria as well as Cyprus. Primitive art from Oceania, Africa, Asia and the Americas is another area of focus. The collection of 19th-century Cannes landscapes is also worth a look. The 12th-century Sainte-Anne chapel houses a superb collection of musical instruments from all over the world. Climb the medieval tower for a panoramic view of Cannes and its bay. Tickets for adults cost EUR3. Admission is free on the first sunday of each month.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Dan Friedman
Photo: Soumit Nandi
Photo: saltybullfrog
Photo: NoelleMarchbanks.com
Photo: Mukund Sridhar
Photo: ddsartist
Photo: Evan Mattson
Photo: Santiago di Morales

Lérins Monastery and Abbey

Abbey, Museum and Monastery Île St-Honorat
Cannes, Alpes-Côte d'Azur 06400
France
+33 4 9299 5400
http://www.abbayedelerins.com Founded in 410 by Saint Honorat, this monastery is currently inhabited by a community of 30 Cistercian monks who observe the rules of Saint Benoît. There are seven other chapels around the island, some of which date back to the Middle Ages. You can also visit a museum (ancient archaeology, paintings, historical information on the monastery), a church, and an old fortified monastery. The monastery is also a retreat, and you can buy products made by the monks - try the Lérina liqueur.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Notre-Dame d'Espérance

Provençal Gothic Church Place de la Castre
Cannes, Alpes-Côte d'Azur 06400
France
+33 4 9339 1749 Completed in 1648, Notre-Dame d'Espérance is a beautiful Provençal Gothic church. Its charm lies in its wood paneling, which dates back to the 14th and 15th century. Also worth a look is the collection of 19th century paintings, which includes a fresco by George Roux that portrays the baptism of Christ. Statues of Saint Anne and Notre-Dame d'Espérance (both in gilded wood) from the 15th and 18th centuries are worth checking out. Situated on top of Suquet hill in old Cannes, the church offers visitors a fabulous view of the town and its bay. One of fishermen's favorite saints, Notre-Dame d'Espérance is also called upon to heal the sick. Mass is held every Sunday at 11a.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: ludo.stnicolas
Photo: barry hotchkies
Photo: Jim Fenton

Other Schmapplets in this city related to "Cannes - Historical Background"
Cannes
Cannes - Neighborhood Guide
Cannes - Where to Stay
Cannes - Dining & Drinking
Cannes - Art & Entertainment
Other nearby cities:
Nice (20 miles)
Marseille (135 miles)
Turin (169 miles)
Genoa (177 miles)
Montpellier (254 miles)
Milan (271 miles)
Lyon (295 miles)
Florence (312 miles)
Bologna (359 miles)
Verona (375 miles)

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