Wander & Wonder Travel Newsletter

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A red carpet.

Flashing cameras.

Black-tie glamour by the sea.

The Festival de Cannes transforms this stretch by the French Riviera into the global capital of cinema.  

This year, it’s from 12th to 23th May, and the staircase at Palace of Festivals becomes one of the most photographed places on earth.

But Cannes is more than tuxedos and camera flashes.

If you venture a little up the hills, you’ll find the old town of Cannes.

Up there, the mood changes; narrow lanes, shuttered houses, and sudden spectacular views over the bay – and to the island where a famous masked man once was kept prisoner.

Read on to learn about:

🎭 The Man in the Iron Mask

🖖 Celebrity handprints in the pavement

🗺️ A movie-themed treasure hunt

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Destination of the Week

What makes Cannes special is that it is really two cities layered on top of each other.

There is the Cannes the world knows: the polished Riviera stage with its palm-lined promenade, grand hotels, and beaches.

And then there’s the intimate charm of Le Suquet, the old quarter with steep lanes and traces of the past.

Here you can really sense how Cannes began as a small fishing village.

You can still find places like the Marché Forville, the city’s covered market, and the Old Port, where small fishing boats still lie side by side with modern grand yachts.

Don't Miss

For a darker detour in Cannes, take the boat to Fort Royal on the island Île Sainte-Marguerite.

Today it looks out over dazzling blue water, but this fortress once held one of France’s most enduring mysteries: the Man in the Iron Mask, who was imprisoned here for 11 years.

What makes the place so fascinating is that the mystery was never really solved.

The prisoner’s identity remains uncertain.

That only makes the story and the trip better: a prison by the sea, a hidden identity, and a legend that still clings to the island.

Did You Know?

Cannes has its own answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame: the Chemin des Étoiles.

It’s a trail of celebrity handprints set into the pavement around the Palais des Festivals.

The official tourism site says around 150 footprints decorate the area, turning a simple stroll by the festival palace into a brush with film history.

Look for a Jodie Foster, Sylvester Stallone, Sharon Stone, and many more.

It’s a reminder that here in Cannes, even the pavement is part of the performance.

The Trendy Traveler Tip

To see a more playful side of Cannes, go hunting for the Les Murs Peints - the giant film-themed murals scattered across the city.

There are about fifteen monumental painted walls scattered around, and many of them feature cinema icons and famous scenes.

It is one of the smartest (and funniest) ways to explore the city: less polished than the red carpet, more surprising than the beach, and perfect for turning a simple walk into a kind of movie-themed treasure hunt.