Le Suquet

Cannes' venerable Old Town and Port

Le Vieux Port & Le Suquet (the old port & the hill) Far from the opulence and modernity of Cannes, the old port and adjoining Suquet district are the most picturesque parts of town, taking you back in time. It's easy to lose your way among the elaborate labyrinth of back streets, quaint passageways and pretty little squares, but they are deliciously cool retreats in the summer heat. Climb the streets to reach the top of the Suquet hill, from where you can take in an unrivalled panorama of Cannes and the surrounding area. It makes for an especially romantic view as dusk falls and the town begins to light up beneath you. Just behind this point is one of Cannes' all too few museums, the Musée de la Castre, sheltered in a 12th-century castle which once belonged to the monks of the Lérins islands just offshore. It houses a beautiful collection of objects of Mediterranean origin, with an emphasis on ethnography and archaeology, as well as many musical instruments from all over the world. Also on Le Suquet is the Eglise Notre-Dame d'Espérance, which dates back to the 17th century. The church is especially renowned for its naïve-style thanksgiving plaques created by locals, who were not necessarily artistic, as a tribute to the Virgin Mary who answered their prayers. As for the old port, its moorings are only occupied by yachts and small fishing boats. But Cannes is a master of harmonizing contrasts: old lives beside new, luxury mingles with rustic, and the town and countryside happily complement one another here.

Totally Riviera - Cannes

Le Suquet

Cannes' venerable Old Town and Port