History Of Cannes

The city of Cannes if perhaps most famous for its annual film festival; however, it was the scene of significant activity long before the arrival of celluloid and has a long and interesting history dating back thousands of years. Today, its atmosphere of vibrancy and cultural richness is fortified by it proud heritage.

Evidence exists to suggest that civilisations inhabited the area we now know as Cannes as early as the 2nd century BC. It’s believed that the Oxybian tribe from Liguria formed various settlements here, which came under the name Aegitna. Historians are unsure of the meaning of this name, but what is known is that initially the area was little more than a simple fishing village used as a port of call between the Lérins Islands. Life in Aegitna was fairly uneventful until the year 69 AD, when it became the scene of a violent conflict between the troops of Othos and Vitellius, and this marked a significant period of unsettlement in the area.

Middle Ages

The 10th century saw the village fall under the control of the Lérins, with the abbot of Lérins Abbey (Abbaye de Lérins) instated as its ruler. A castle was built for the abbot to reside in and to provide the village with fortification; the Château de la Castre is now the site of a museum bearing the same name. Moving on to the 14th century; Cannes, now gradually becoming a town, met with troublesome times when it was hit by the plague and then became subject to invasions by various pirates and bandits. The abbey however protected the townsfolk well and the area survived; however, it was struck again by another bout of plague in the 16th century.

Renaissance

By the 17th century, Cannes was home to some 600 residences and saw the building of the Notre-Dame parish church. Spanish troops tried to take control of the nearby Isle de Sainte-Marguerite, but the French eventually successfully defended their position. With the 18th century came various invasion attempts as well as a revolt from the townsfolk following the harsh winter of 1771, which forced the price of bread up.

Arrival of the rich and famous

In the 19th century, Cannes saw its most significant developments with the arrival of foreign and French aristocrats in the 1830s, who made the town their holiday home, building various properties around the area. The arrival of a prominent British politician - Lord Henry Peter Brougham - in 1834, while on the way to Italy, was the main catalyst in the town’s expansion. Development encouraged enterprise and the Cannes Railway Station opened in 1863 followed by the Tramway de Cannes transportation system in 1899. By the 1930s, the town had secured its status as a fashionable holiday destination and was further placed on the map by the first international film festival in 1946. Today, Cannes still retains a reputation as a chic and trendy city and attracts both the rich and famous as well as regular holidaymakers.