Although Cannes is famous across the globe for its Croisette district and its many festivals, some of its other neighbourhoods are less well known and, as a result, they come as a nice surprise for tourists who wish to explore the city for themselves.
Just north of the Suquet district is Boulevard Carnot, a street leading to the neighbourhood of the same name as well as to the town of Cannet. Together, we’re going to look at what makes Boulevard Carnot special, what you’ll find along the boulevard, and its remarkable buildings.
History and Development of Boulevard Carnot
Boulevard Carnot is named after former French President Sadi Carnot, who was assassinated in Lyon on 24th June 1894. It runs in a straight line for 2.6 kilometres, connecting Cannes to the towns of Cannet, Mougins, Valbonne and Grasse. And, if you continue onto Avenue de Campon, you’ll end up on the A8 motorway (known as A8 du Soleil) which will take you to Marseille, Aix-en-Provence and Nice.
The boulevard has a rather unique history: it is the result of a real estate promotional campaign designed by banker Henri Germain on behalf of the real estate company Société Foncière Lyonnaise. His love for Cannes and his belief that many wealthy people would come and spend the winter in the Midi region of South East France led Germain, through his company, to buy all available land north of the railway tracks between 1875 and 1880. After bringing an architect on board, he decided to design a 26-metre wide, 2,600-metre-long avenue starting from Cannes train station and heading in a straight line towards the town of Suquet. The avenue was completed in 1883 and named Boulevard de la Foncière-Lyonnais. A committee later decided to change the name in honour of President Sadi Carnot on 31st July 1894, one month after his assassination. The results of the project were mixed.
It turned out that few people were interested in buying land to build holiday homes and, to make matters worse, the First World War put a stop to all real estate projects. It would take 25 years for Credit Lyonnais, the bank founded by Henri Germain, to sell all the land. Today, Boulevard Carnot is a thriving area of Cannes, full of history and home to a wide range of shops.
Things to do on Boulevard Carnot
Boulevard Carnot is a unique destination, which is not surprising: it has been designated as a cultural heritage site by the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. Walking along the street, you’ll discover its remarkable buildings and monuments. Starting at the beginning of Boulevard Carnot, next to the train station, you’ll notice two strange-looking buildings: building no. 2, which is the old Hôtel du Louvre, and building no. 8, one of the buildings that was built before 1900.
On either side of Place Vauban, you’ll see two symmetrical buildings which act as a sort of grand entranceway. One of these buildings, building no. 11, houses the prestigious 4-star Hôtel Cavendish. Continuing along the boulevard, you’ll walk past building no. 19, which is the Palace of Justice, with its gorgeous architecture. It is also the seat of the county court. For history lovers, it’s worth noting that, in addition to building no. 8, more pre-1900 buildings can be found at no. 26, 42, 50, 65, 66, 67, 71 and 93.
Building no. 96, Carnot High School, marks the end of the boulevard. The school was built in 1913 by architect Camille Mari. Finally, next to the school, you’ll find Square Carnot, a green space to relax and enjoy the tropical atmosphere with a fountain. This space also marks the border between the towns of Cannes and Le Cannet.
Why Visit Boulevard Carnot?
Boulevard Carnot is one of the main streets in Cannes, meaning that visitors can find everything they could possibly need there: grocery stores, hair salons, restaurants, and even coin-operated laundrettes. Basically, there’s something for everyone, making it a practical place for both residents and tourists just spending a few days there!
If you intend on doing some shopping as you explore the neighbourhood, we recommend that you wear comfortable shoes. The boulevard is 2.6 kilometres long, so you’ll probably be walking a good number of steps as you explore.
Hotels and Accommodation on Boulevard Carnot in Cannes
If you’re looking for a bit of the Cannes luxury when staying on Boulevard Carnot, there are many 4-star hotels to choose from, including Hôtel Cavendish and Hôtel Novotel, which is at the intersection of Rue Mozart and Rue Henri Germain. Further north, next to Léo Callandry Square, you’ll find the unique glass façade of the Hôtel Amarante.
There are other accommodation options on Boulevard Carnot. Check out our website to find the place that best meets your needs.
Getting to Boulevard Carnot
There are several ways to get to Boulevard Carnot, depending on which mode of transport you take:
- From the train station, the route is easy: the boulevard starts just outside the station. So, all you need to do is walk onto the boulevard, or take the bus 832 to get to the other end of the street. You can also take other bus routes from other areas of Cannes to get to Boulevard Carnot. We recommend using a map application such as Google Maps to find the best route.
- If you’re arriving by car, you have two options: if you’re coming from the centre of Cannes, take either the Boulevard de la 1ère Division Française Libre (if you’re coming from the East), or Avenue Bachaga Saïd Boualam. Boulevard Carnot is long and well-sign-posted, so you should be able to find it easily. If you’re coming from the A8 motorway, take the exit towards Avenue du Campon, which leads straight onto the north end of the boulevard.
Come and Discover Boulevard Carnot and Cannes
Boulevard Canot has something for everyone to enjoy. Not only is it a quick and easy route to get to the centre of Cannes, but its location also makes it an ideal base for exploring other attractions in the region, as well as providing everything a visitor could need during their stay. The boulevard is also home to many interesting and historic buildings, which gives the place a certain charm.
Looking for accommodation near Boulevard Carnot in Cannes? Check out Immosol’s offers and find the best place for your needs.