Every May, Cannes turns into the world capital of cinema. Limousines appear along the Croisette, photographers take their positions in front of the Palais des Festivals, and hotels become temporary residences for directors, actors, and producers from all over the world for several days.
But if you come here outside the festival rush and stop in front of the famous steps of the Palais des Festivals, you will quickly understand: the Cannes Film Festival is not only about camera flashes and evening gowns. Behind this carefully constructed aesthetic lies an entire cultural layer, where ancient symbols, the political history of the 20th century, and the almost theatrical traditions of French society intertwine.
That is why the Cannes Festival has long become part of the cultural heritage of the French Riviera — as recognizable a symbol of the region as the Monte Carlo Casino or the old streets of Nice.
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The birth of the festival: France’s response to politics and propaganda
How Venice unintentionally helped Cannes appear
The history of the Cannes Film Festival does not begin with luxury, but with a political conflict.
In the 1930s, the main European film festival was considered to be the Venice Film Festival, founded in 1932. However, by the end of the decade, the festival was increasingly falling under the influence of the fascist regimes of Italy and Germany. In 1938, the jury’s decision to award the main prize to a propaganda film by Leni Riefenstahl caused an international scandal.
It was then that the French diplomat and historian Philippe Erlanger proposed creating an independent international film festival in France. Cannes was chosen as the location — a resort town that was already popular among the British aristocracy and the European elite.
The first opening of the festival was scheduled for September 1, 1939. But on that very day, Germany invaded Poland. Two days later, France entered the Second World War, and the festival was cancelled literally after just one official evening.
The first full Cannes Festival took place only in September 1946.
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The Croisette and the Palais des Festivals: the stage of world cinema
What you will see today
If you find yourself in Cannes in the morning, before the evening crowds appear, the atmosphere of the Croisette is completely different. Instead of a red carpet — runners along the sea; instead of photographers — yacht owners and waiters preparing terraces for a new day.
The main point of the festival is the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, a modern building constructed in 1982. This is where the famous montée des marches takes place — the ceremonial climb up the steps.
Interestingly, the current Palais des Festivals is already the second in the history of Cannes. The first palace was located closer to the old port and was opened in 1949 specifically for the festival. Today, its building houses the JW Marriott hotel.
During a walk along the Croisette, you will also see:
— the Walk of Stars with actors’ handprints;
— the famous steps with the red carpet;
— the Carlton, Martinez, and Majestic hotels, where film stars have stayed for decades;
— the old port, where private yachts of producers and billionaires arrive during the festival.
By the way, if you want to see Cannes not only as a resort, but also as a historic stage of European cinema, this place is often included in our tours of Cannes and the French Riviera.
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The red carpet is older than Hollywood
A symbol that came from the ancient world
Many people believe that the red carpet tradition was invented by Hollywood. In reality, its history goes back to ancient Greece.
One of the earliest mentions of red fabric under someone’s feet appears in Aeschylus’ tragedy Agamemnon, written in the 5th century BC. At that time, the color red was associated with power, divine status, and a person’s exceptional position.
Later, the tradition appeared at European royal courts, and then during official visits by heads of state.
In the film industry, the red carpet became a symbol only in the 20th century. It began to be used at the Oscars ceremony in 1961, but in Cannes the permanent red carpet became established only in 1984.
The man who turned the walk up the steps into a show
An interesting fact: the modern montée des marches ceremony owes a great deal to the French journalist Yves Mourousi — the legendary TF1 television presenter. In the 1980s, he helped turn the simple entrance of guests into an almost theatrical event, which is now broadcast around the world.
Today, it is difficult to imagine the festival without this ceremony, but half a century ago everything looked far less glamorous.
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The Palme d’Or did not appear immediately
Why the festival had no main trophy for a long time
Today, the Palme d’Or is considered one of the most prestigious awards in world cinema. But the first winners of the festival did not receive the familiar trophy at all.
Until 1955, laureates were awarded diplomas and works of art. Only later did the organizers decide to create their own recognizable symbol.
They chose the palm branch as the basis — the historic emblem of Cannes. Palm trees appeared on the city’s coat of arms as early as the medieval period and were linked to the legend of Saint Honoratus and the Lérins Islands.
The legend of the Lérins Islands
According to local legend, when Saint Honoratus arrived on the island of Saint-Honorat in the 5th century, the island was full of snakes. The saint drove them away through prayer, after which the snakes supposedly crawled into the sea.
It was the monastery on the Lérins Islands that later became one of the spiritual centers of the region, while the palm branch gradually became established as a symbol of Cannes.
The first modern Palme d’Or was created by the jeweler Lucienne Lazon in 1955.
But even here, the story was not stable: in 1964, the award was temporarily discontinued, and then returned only ten years later. The image of the Palme d’Or became firmly established in the 1980s.
Today, the trophy is made by the Swiss jewelry house Chopard from 18-carat gold.
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Cannes outside the festival: when is the best time to visit?
Why May is not always the best choice
Paradoxically, many locals believe that the best time to discover Cannes is not during the festival period at all.
In May, the city becomes incredibly beautiful, but also extremely crowded: hotel prices rise sharply, traffic is restricted, and part of the seafront becomes a closed area.
If you want to see the Croisette, the old quarter of Le Suquet, and the Palais des Festivals peacefully, it is better to come:
— in April;
— in early June;
— in September;
— in October.
At this time, Cannes preserves its Mediterranean atmosphere without the festival crowds.
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The Cannes Festival as a mirror of its era
Why this place matters even for those who do not love cinema
The Cannes Film Festival has long ceased to be simply a cinematographic event. The history of the 20th and 21st centuries has been reflected here.
In 1968, the festival was stopped because of student protests in France. Directors Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut literally disrupted screenings in solidarity with the protesters in Paris.
Over the years, this was where many figures first made a powerful international statement, including:
— Quentin Tarantino;
— Lars von Trier;
— Emir Kusturica;
— Jane Campion;
— Bong Joon Ho.
Cannes has always been not only a celebration of cinema, but also a place where politics, society, and cultural change were discussed.
That is why a walk along the Croisette is not just a walk by the sea. It is a chance to see a place where modern culture was literally created before everyone’s eyes.
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Where to learn more
The festival calendar, the archive of winners, and the history of the event are available on the official Festival de Cannes website — it is especially interesting to look at archival photographs of Cannes from the 1940s and 1950s, when the festival was only beginning to become a global symbol of cinema.
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If you want to discover even more unexpected stories of Cannes and the French Riviera, see places that are not mentioned on standard routes, and connect them into one historical picture, we invite you to join our original guided tours.
👉 Follow the link, choose any tour from our list, and set off to explore the French Riviera more deeply — with attention, intelligence, and a lively conversation about the past and the present.