City Info
France | Cannes

Cannes is situated in southeast France in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region and has a population of around 70,000 people. The city is one of the most popular destinations on the French Riviera and is famous throughout the world for its international film festival, La Croisette promenade, its many luxury hotels and its marina. The Mediterranean climate also contributes to the area's popularity as a tourist hotspot; Cannes enjoys long hot summers with temperatures regularly hitting 40°C and has an average 12 hours of sunshine per day. Rainfall is relatively low throughout the year.

The city came to prominence in the mid 19th century. In 1834 the British Baron Henry Brougham accidentally discovered the then small fishing village and fell in love with the place. He bought land there, constructed the villa Eleonore-Louise and worked to improve the area's living conditions. This in turn attracted the English aristocracy and a rich winter clientele who came to build winter residences and casinos. Today, the city is one of the Côte d'Azur's highlights and captivates its visitors with its luxury villas and mansions, designer boutiques and grand hotels - a true millionaire's paradise!   The waterfront boulevard La Croisette is undoubtedly the city's main attraction; lined with palm trees, this beautiful 2 km promenade is famed for its expensive shops, superb restaurants and prestigious hotels such as the Martinez and the Majestic. In the old town (le Suquet) you will find the medieval fort of la Castre and the Musée de la Castre, which exhibits art collections and objects from Europe, Oceania, the Himalayas and the Americas. From the 12th century square tower at la Castre you can experience a wonderful view over the city, the bay and the Lérins Islands. The largest of these islands, Île Sainte-Marguerite, is certainly worth a visit. Here you will find the old state prisons and the cell where the Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned for 11 years. The Musée de la Mer is also situated here and offers a great collection of Roman wall paintings and underwater archaeological materials from shipwrecks. The economy of Cannes is predominantly based on tourism, trade, business fairs and aviation. In recent years the surrounding area has developed into a high-tech cluster with the Sophia Antipolis technology park located in the hills beyond the city. The Cannes Film Festival is naturally a major economic contributor and is the highlight of the city's calendar. Generally held in May, the festival is one of the oldest and most prestigious of its kind, and sees the city flooded with thousands of visitors from all over the world. Cannes is also home to the commercial property-related trade show Mipim, various other media, advertising, travel and boating exhibitions, as well as an annual fireworks festival. This small city has a real cosmopolitan feel, as well as offering a true French experience. Whether soaking up the luxurious atmosphere on la Croisette or escaping the hustle and bustle on the Lérins Islands, Cannes offers you a great location to complete your internship.