Cannes History
The arrival of Lord Brougham in 1834 brought a huge population
of British and Russian aristocrats wishing to take advantage of
the town’s warm winter climate. The arrival of these aristocrats
brought the town the fame and fortune it enjoys today. The first
apparent civilization to inhabit Cannes dates right back to the
2nd century BC, and were settled by the Oxybian tribe from Liguria.
Lord Brougham was so taken by this lovely site, its friendly inhabitants
and gentle climate that he decided to go no further. He had a castle
built for him here, which he named after his recently deceased daughter
– Château Eléonor, where he spent the rest of
his days. Following his example and attracted by the exceptional
natural beauty and mild climate, a wave of British expatriates soon
began flooding into Cannes. From its beginnings as a provincial
village, Cannes soon gained recognition as the Mecca of holiday
resorts. Its growth was dazzling, with less than 4000 inhabitants
in 1834 and some 20,000 in 1896. At the end of the 19th century,
tourism was already the main economic activity.
It was during the 10th that the name Cannes appeared for the first
time in official documents. Various theories about the origins of
Cannes' name have been proposed, the most plausible of which is
perhaps that the town was named after the abundant reeds (cannae)
which surrounded the early settlement. Before the English arrived,
the surrounding countryside was rather poor. Onions, chickpeas and
olives formed the basic diet of the people of Cannes, along with
fish, goat cheese and a few rare fruits and vegetables. The only
streams flowing here were unpredictable torrents, dry at least six
months in the year. For the British, this could not be tolerated;
they could not imagine life without flowers, and especially without
lawns. The problem was quickly settled by the enterprising Lord
Brougham who decided himself to found, with some friends, a company
in charge of conveying water to their homes (and at the same time
to the population of Cannes). This led to building the Canal de
la Siagne, which still provides the city’s water today.
By the 17th century, the village of Cannes had grown to support
some 600 houses, and the Notre-Dame parish church was built. The
18th century witnessed the comings and goings of various invaders,
and in 1771, an exceptionally harsh winter ravaged the region, the
corresponding high price of bread provoking the people into revolt.
At around the same time, maritime trade began to occupy a more important
place in the town's economy. One result of the French Revolution
in 1789 was the division of the country into departments (local
administrative units).
The 1900’s in Cannes brought with it the famous International
Film Festival. The film festival is one of the biggest events in
France, attracting starts, starlets, and plenty of groupies. Today
Cannes is a quiet and beautiful village that attracts people from
all over the world to enjoy its fine dining, amazing weather, and
beautiful buildings.
More Information
 www.state.gov
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