Recipes & Reminiscing with Karen Wright – Midi-Pyrenees
It’s that time of year again when the Cannes Film Festival is in full force with A-listers flooding to the beautiful coastal city. But did you know the festival isn’t just for movie stars to enjoy? The Festival is being held this year from 17-28 May and there are plenty of events open to the public. We have lots of campsites in the beautiful Côte D’Azur, and Cannes and the surrounding area have plenty to do and see.
The port of Cannes
What can I do during the Festival in Cannes?
You can still enjoy films without being a celeb or splashing your cash as there are plenty of public events held during the festival.
Two screens show constant highlights of the festival and are the best way to grab a sneaky peak of the stars walking the red carpet. Of course a walk along the Allée des Stars is a must to catch some classic celebrity handprints including Meryl Streep and Sylvester Stallone. The Cannes Cinephiles organisation show a selection of films from the festival at four venues and tickets are free. To grab a ticket head to their tent on the Pantiero between 9am and 5:30pm. Every evening there is a free open air cinema held on the Plage Mace beach. We can’t think of anything better than relaxing on a deckchair and watching a classic film on a warm summer’s evening. Celebrations will be going all out for the Festival’s 70th anniversary including a fireworks show from 10pm on the 23rd of May. Apparently the stars will be playing a traditional game of boules in Les Allées at 11am on the 27th!
Keep in mind that there will be strict security measures at all events this year, so make sure you get there early.
The seafront of Cannes
What else is there to do in Cannes?
Cannes has plenty to offer outside the festival from beautiful sandy beaches to fine dining. A stroll along Cannes’ famed La Croisette will make you feel like a star surrounded by the beach and designer boutiques. A day can easily be spent eating a delicious meal and browsing the many shops. Don’t worry there are plenty of normal shops alongside those big designer names.
The Massif D’Esterel just outside Cannes
For those more interested in the beauty of the great outdoors than the beauty of celebrities, Cannes neighbours a stunning coastal mountain range. The Massif D’Esterel has unbeatable views of both sea and mountains. Cannes’ coastal route is the perfect place to start a hike up these stunning mountains.
What is there to do outside of Cannes?
The South of France is perfect if you fancy exploring a bit further afield, as it is home to plenty of stunning cities and villages ideal for exploring and most won’t be as busy as normal with the majority of tourists flocking to Cannes.
Take the family to Grasse, the World Capital of Perfumes, for the Parfumerie Fragonard – a guided tour of the secrets to making that perfect scent. Head out for a day of tanning and swimming on the beautiful beaches of Théoule-sur-Mer nestled among a dramatic rocky coastling. For a bit of culture you can visit the Picasso museum in the charming town of Antibes. And foodies can head to Nice for a delicious steak frites dinner in the bustling Cours Saleya flower market.
For more information and things to do in the region, take a look at 3 things to do in the Cote d’Azur.
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Didn’t know that Cannes offers so many beautiful places! Maybe the glamorous Cannes festival needs to be blamed for stealing the thunder! Loved the pics of beaches!