Cannes

Resort in Alpes-Maritimes département of southern France, on the Mediterranean coast and 21 km/13 mi southwest of Nice; population (1999) 67,400. Formerly a small fishing village and seaport, in 1834 Cannes attracted the patronage of the English Lord Brougham and other distinguished visitors and soon grew into a popular winter and summer holiday resort on the French Riviera. The prestigious Cannes Film Festival is held here annually. The city has textile and aircraft industries, and a strong trade in olive oil, soap, fish, fruit, and flowers.

Features The north of the town is sheltered by low wooded hills on which there are numerous hotels and villas. The town extends in a crescent along the Rade de Cannes, and has fine gardens and boulevards as well as casinos and sports facilities. On the Mont Chevalier, beside the harbour, is a 16th-century church and a watchtower built originally in the 11th century by monks of the nearby Lérins islands, who were protectors of the city from the 4th century. In the 12th century they built fortifications around the city to protect it against Muslim raiders. The Abbey of Lérins was an intellectual centre in the 5th century.