30 | A ‘BON VIVANT’ LIFESTYLE


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A STAR-STUDDED JEWEL ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA


Erin English explores Cannes, the ‘City of Stars’ on the French Riveria...


February 2026


War Two on September 1st 1939, the very next day. The Cannes Film Festival was put on hold and only officially commenced its run as an established annual event in 1946. The Cannes Film festival flourished to popularity


BY ERIN ENGLISH erin@nitravelnews.com


A star-studded jewel on the French Riviera, Cannes is without a doubt one of my favorite port destinations to explore while on a Mediterranean voyage.


Spurred by love of


cinema, and pop culture, the French ‘City of Stars,’ captivates me each time I visit.


Standing at the


Palace of Festivals, I ponder the film stars that have graced those very steps. Notable figures include royal figures such as Grace Kelly, and Princess Diana, to iconic actresses such as Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn, right down to our modern day starlets such as Jennifer Lawrence, and Emma Stone. From the first moments of anchoring in the Bay of Cannes, Cannes oozes opulence and star appeal.


Yachts line the marina, and a brief glimmer of the Cannes sign can be seen nestled in the heights of le Suquet. While some port destinations can feel jam- packed and filled to the brim with exploration and sight- seeing. In Cannes, you are captivated by the atmosphere of the French Riviera, sun-drenched, star-studded, yet deliciously slow-paced. The Côte d'Azur invites you to not only walk amongst the stars, but to indulge a slower pace of Mediterranean relaxation , or as the French tenderly call it, a ‘bon vivant’ lifestyle. But how did the French, ‘City of Stars and Sunshine,’ come to be? Rising to prominence from humble beginnings, Cannes originated as a quiet fishing village between the Lerins Islands, just a short distance from Nice. Cannes’ connection to the aristocracy only became established following the arrival of Henry Brougham,


a British Baron. Upon his arrival, Brougham purchased land nearby the Croix de Garden in the mid-19th century. From here, Brougham sought to improve the living conditions in surrounding areas, work which


seemingly attracted other members of the European aristocracy to establish Winter residences in Cannes. Not long after, Cannes began to witness rapid expansion with the introduction of casinos, villas, hotels, and railway lines. Prospects which opened up the once small fishing village to a plethora of new investment. From there,


Cannes became one of the trendiest places on the French Riviera and luxurious hotels and shopping boutiques began to prop up along the coastline. However, the bustle of activity in Cannes paused during the course of World War Two, but in 1939 the French government had an idea that would change the world’s outlook on Cannes forever. The Cannes Film Festival was first put forward


in 1939, after the French felt a disconnect from the Venice Film Festival at a time of fractured political relationships with Italy. The festival first took place on the 31st of August 1939, with a showing of the Hunchback of Notre Dame starring Maureen O’Hara. However, with the declaration of World


throughout the 1950s and 1960s, as clusters of Hollywood heartthrobs and silver screen starlets graced the streets of Cannes, garnering mass media attention across the globe. A worldwide phenomenon that still remains today. Tourists can embark on their own star-spotting


adventure at the Palace of Festivals and the Congresses of Cannes, where you can walk in footsteps, or perhaps the hand-prints, of some of your favorite stars of stage and screen. Referred to as the path of the stars, the area and streets surrounding the location of the Cannes Film Festival, are dotted with the hand-prints of famous figures. With a few key figures to note being Angelina Jolie, Leonardo DiCaprio, Nicole Kidman, and many more! The star quality of Cannes doesn’t end there, in fact,


a lot of Cannes tourism is centred around it. A famous mural in the main square, just beside the city hall is an artwork depicting hundreds of cinematic greats including Aldred Hitchcock, Mickey Mouse, Jessica Rabbit, and Charlie Chaplin. Just opposite the mural is a wonderful French patisserie, named Boulangerie Patisserie, which is famed for its adaption of the Tarte Tropezienne, a creamy sponge cake loved by the late Brigitte Bardot, a French actress and beauty icon throughout the 1950s. Cannes is world-renowned for expensive retail options


on the mythical boulevard of the Croisette. The Croisette is home to established fashion houses such as Chanel


to Hermes, Cartier and Christian Dior. The Rue Meynadier runs parallel to this street which is the epicentre of the Cannes shopping scene. The Rue Meynadier consists of over 800 shops, making this area a shoppers paradise. Spanning above the Cannes coastline and nestled in the hills stands a glorious ‘Cannes’ sign which overlooks the city. Made from lightbulbs, the ‘Cannes’ sign is located around a twenty minute walk from the main City Hall. Why not head to the top of the Le Suquet for an amazing picture beside the Cannes sign? Not to mention, the incredible view of Cannes and your cruise vessel from a


birdseye view. On the journey, travellers get to


witness some of Cannes famous murals and


alleyways. Including a trip through the Marché Forville, a market which illuminates the senses with the bright scent of fresh flowers to the colours of the fresh fruits of the area. Or perhaps make a pit-stop at one of Cannes’ established French pâtisseries, and try your own Tarte Tropezienne. After all, Cannes residents do have a saying, ‘’’Qui li ven li vieù’ which translates to ‘whoever goes there, lives there,’ a heartfelt ode to the French city’s ever- growing charm amongst tourists and locals alike.


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