Casinos, boutiques and luxury hotels on the Croisette in Cannes

The boulevard is named boulevard de la Croisette because originally, a small cross, "crouseto" in Provençal, was the emblem of the original path. Since 2010, the oratory at the end of the cape, with its steel cross, has been a reminder of the history of this prestigious boulevard.

The origins of this luxury boulevard lie in the sands and marshes as far as the eye can see.

The boulevard de la Croisette was originally a dirt track used by pilgrims, their carts and the fishermen of Cannes. The area was made up of dunes, some of which were more than 15 metres high. Pilgrims set off from here, attracted by the sanctity of the monks of the Abbey of Lérins, to the island of Saint-Honorat, off the coast of Cannes.

Spotted by a wealthy winter resident on holiday, by 1834 the whole of London had only Cannes in mind. Soon, aristocrats from all over the world were turning it into a resort and a place of luxury, and Cannes was gradually transformed into the seaside resort and tourist town it is today.

To coincide with this change, work began on the Croisette, where a 5-metre wide promenade was built to accommodate tourists.

Today, the Croisette is 2.6 km long. It begins in the Centre Croisette district and ends at Place Franklin-Roosevelt in the Pointe Croisette district.

The Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes is ideally located on the Croisette promenade. The building, with its contemporary architecture, hosts exhibitions, shows and political events all year round. You can find the programme of events throughout the year on the Palais des Festivals website.

The Cannes Festival, known as the "International Film Festival" until 2002, is a world-famous film festival. Every year, during the second half of May, it welcomes stars from all over the world.

The promenade features flower gardens and trees to shade the landscaped areas. You can sit facing the sea and admire the fountains and monuments. Cannes locals take advantage of the promenade to do some sport. You'll see lots of people running, or rollerblading, for example.

The promenade runs alongside the Croisette beach, one of the largest in Cannes and certainly the most visited. The beach is beautiful, with fine sand and the Mediterranean Sea shimmering in its iconic turquoise.

Many luxury boutiques line the Croisette promenade. To name but a few, you'll find famous French brands such as:

• Chanel
• Valentino
• Balenciaga
• Versace And more...

Numerous restaurants offer gourmet visitors Provencal dishes typical of the Côte d'Azur. Here are some of our favourites.

🍴 Restaurant La Palme d'Or

Sumptuous establishment offering "tasting" menus, accompanied by grands crus. The terrace offers a magnificent view over the Bay of Cannes. The restaurant is only open for dinner in the evening.

🍴 Le Carlton Restaurant

This prestigious Croisette hotel needs no introduction. Its restaurant offers the delights of its Michelin-starred chef, in one of the building's dazzling rooms. The hotel also has a bar and a function room where parties are sometimes organised.

🍴 Le Miramar Plage

The Miramar Plage restaurant welcomes its guests on the Croisette beach, with its feet in the sand. The establishment is renowned for its seafood specialities, concocted according to the catch of the day, and the terrace is very pleasant for an aperitif while watching the sunset.