Large, three-dimensional letters spell Cannes on an artificial slope, surrounded by plants and trees. A narrow cobblestone alley surrounded by pastel buildings and a small market stall. A person walks by.
France

Cannes: Without a Script

A quiet morning in the old town of Cannes.
 Cannes, France, October 2022

Cannes. A name that whispers of glamour. Of red carpets, flashing cameras, and outrageously expensive rosé. And then you arrive and realize: it smells like the sea, not like perfume.

In Le Suquet, the old town, the facades are already a little worn. Narrow alleys wind their way up the hill toward Notre-Dame d'Espérance, a church with a beautiful view over the city and the sea.

On my way back down, I pass the Musée des Explorations du Monde, housed in the remains of a medieval castle. Its thick walls are a reminder of the days when the Abbots of Lérins ruled this region. Today, the building holds an ethnographic art collection.

Down in the harbor, countless small sailboats bob gently on the waves. Fishing boats rest peacefully beside luxury yachts, as if class divisions didn’t exist here.

Tucked away in a quiet side street, away from the famous promenade, stands Notre-Dame de Bon Voyage. With a name like that, I couldn’t resist stopping by before moving on. The church itself is simple, nothing spectacular—but a good place for a short pause before the journey continues.

Map of Cannes
A woman in a floral dress walks along a promenade, with a cityscape featuring a clock tower and green trees in the background.
A red sports car drives by a street with an elegant building in the background and motorcycles parked to the side.
View of a calm marina with numerous boats and colorful buildings in the background reflected in the water.
A three-story yellow building with white shutters and a closed shopfront. Steps lead up the side of the building.
A narrow cobblestone alley surrounded by pastel buildings and a small market stall. A person walks by.
A quiet street in Le Suquet, the oldest district of Cannes. Cobblestone paths wind down toward the port, lined with shuttered storefronts and market stalls. A glimpse of the city before the glitz—where old-world charm still lingers.
A light building with green shutters featuring an ice cream shop called La Gelateria. The street is cobbled and slightly inclined.
A colorful building with the word GARE is visible. People walk across a crosswalk. In the foreground, there's a flower pot and motorcycles behind.
Large, three-dimensional letters spell Cannes on an artificial slope, surrounded by plants and trees.
Cannes makes its mark. Perched above the city, this Hollywood-style sign is a tribute to the town’s cinematic legacy. Known for its world-famous film festival, Cannes blends old-world Riviera charm with global glamour, where the red carpet is never far away.
The Eglise Notre-Dame d’Espérance in Cannes features a stone clock tower and a cobbled street in the foreground.
The bell tower of Notre-Dame d’Espérance stands atop Le Suquet, the oldest part of Cannes. Built in the 16th century, its stone walls have watched over the city for centuries. Today, this quiet square offers one of the best panoramic views of the Cannes coastline.
The Church of Notre-Dame d'Espérance in Cannes sits above colorful buildings and lush trees.
The Church of Our Lady of Esperance stands above Cannes in the historic district of Le Suquet. Built in the 16th century, its stone bell tower watches over the city’s pastel-colored facades.
A view of a coastal town with buildings, trees, and a harbor in the background under a clear sky.
A stone wall surrounds an old tower with a French flag on top, complemented by green trees and visible flowers.
The Musée des Explorations du Monde, housed in a medieval fortress, overlooks Cannes from the hill of Le Suquet. Once a monastery, this historic site now displays art and artifacts from around the world.
Colorful buildings with balconies and green plants in a stone alley under a clear sky.
A narrow alley featuring a building with a brown awning. A restaurant sign reading Le Marichou and a dark wooden front door are visible.
A grand stone church facade featuring a large round window and decorative arches above the entrance door.
The Église Notre-Dame de Bon Voyage stands just steps from Cannes’ famous boulevard. Built in the 19th century, this neo-Romanesque church blends history with the modern city surrounding it.
A long church interior with wooden pews, high ceilings, and colorful windows casting soft light on the floor.
Large, intertwined letters spell out Cannes, surrounded by trees and with a city view in the background.
Cannes, from behind the scenes. This reverse view of the city’s famous sign offers a different perspective—overlooking the rooftops and hills beyond. A fitting angle for a place where the magic of cinema often lies in what happens off-camera.