Cannes needs no introduction. It’s the city of cinema, jet-set, where the rich and famous come to enjoy the Mediterranean sun, one of the best-known cities in France. It attracts tourists from all over the world, largely due to the annual Cannes Film Festival. Today a beach resort renowned for its multitude of luxury shops, fancy restaurants, and prestigious hotels, there is a hidden ancient side to the city.
Cannes was founded in the 2nd century BC by the Ligurians as a fishing village and port. It was also part of the Roman Empire, with an outpost on the hill, and faced many wars and invasions during the Middle Ages while being controlled by the monks of the Lérins Islands until the 16th century. European aristocrats also came to Cannes in the 19th century, when the city gained the tourist reputation it retains today. Enjoy a privileged view of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, built in 1979 to host the Cannes Film Festival, and learn about the cinema culture, and why this 25 thousand square metres building has shaped the modern age in this city. Climb the hill towards the Tour du Masque, built in the 12th century and named after the famed Man of the Iron Mask. It is said that he spent his last days in this tower and that his ghost haunts the tower to this day. Get to know the hidden historical site of the French city of the rich and famous.