Travel in Cannes-France-History-WorldTravelGate.net®-

Cannes dates back to the fifth century when the Lιrins Islands were inhabited by a religious community. This was probably the site of a small Ligurian port, and later a Roman outpost on Le Suquet hill. Gallo-Roman and Roman tombs were discovered here. Le Suquet housed an 11th-century lookout tower, and overlooked swamps where the city now stands. Most of the ancient activity, especially for protection, was on the Lerin Islands just off the coast, and the history of Cannes is really the history of the islands. The closest thing to an "old town" is "Le Suquet" overlooking the west end of the port. The 12th-century Tour de Mt. Chevalier, ramparts and 12th-16th-century church Notre-Dame-de-l'Espérence give a touch of medieval flavour to the city. The Le Suquet area has narrow streets climbing up and around the hill, with a fine view from the top. Standing on the ancient rampart wall in front of the church, you can see east across the city, the port and the bay to the Cap de la Croisette, and to the west across the Gulf of La Napoule to the Massif de l'Esterel mountains.

Sailors and fishermen were the only inhabitants of Cannes until the middle of the 19th century when Lord Henry Brougham and Vaux, Lord Chancellor of Great Britain and a famous speaker in the House of Lords, discovered the delights of the area and founded an English colony there a former Lord Chancellor of England, Lord Brougham, is credited with having "invented" Cannes when he was detained there while on a trip to Italy in 1834, because a quarantine order prevented him from crossing the River Var into Nice . Milord Brougham, a former Chancellor of all England, so liked the place that he built himself an Italianate villa on a hill just outside the town and persuaded those friends who would listen to live there too, especially during the winters as the climate was so mild. Others also built themselves palatial homes, and the village became a town and prospered.

Lord Brougham placed it on record when he wrote that he had "been enjoying the delightful climate of Province, its clear skies and refreshing breezes, while the deep blue of the The Mediterranean stretched before us. The orange groves perfumed the air while the forest behind, ending in the Alps, protected us from the cold winds of the north."