Villas and houses for sale in Cannes Le Cannet
LE CANNET, CANNES
Le Cannet is a popular residential suburb in the quiet hills on the North Eastern edge of Cannes. It is home to a few really exclusive apartment blocks with panoramic views over the bay of Cannes, and liberally dotted with family homes and luxurious villas. It is an extension of Super Cannes on one side, and abuts Mougins on the other, so its address and credentials are gold-star.
Situated as it is just inland of Cannes, Le Cannet was considered a part of Cannes until 1774 when it was separated administratively to become its own commune. Built on the gentle slopes of seven hills, the views of Cannes, the Bay of Cannes, the Iles de Lerins and the “sunset hills” of the Massif Estérel far to the west, are breath-taking.
The Mairie is proud of Le Cannet and maximises its advantages whenever it is able to, most recently by turning a rough track following the contour from above the Old Town eastwards past many glorious villas towards Golfe Juan, a path used by the Romans (there are still traces of the old Roman road), into what is now a lovely walk with numerous spectacular viewing points along its length.
We long ago discovered the “Old Town” of Le Vieux Cannet and have been regulars there ever since. It is not frequented much by tourists although it has some notable attractions, character townhouses and villas, and some truly excellent restaurants – dining in Le Cannet is a well-kept secret delight.
Le Vieux Cannet is a maze of twisting narrow cobbled streets, chapels, artisan workshops, and beautiful turn of the century properties surrounded by secret gardens away from the noise of the city. It is rich in culture and history and L’Église Sainte-Catherine built in 1556 is a treasure, as are Les Chapelles de Notre-Dame and Saint-Sauveur. Within the maze one stumbles across frescos and “trompe l’œil”, including the Heritage Orange Tree fresco on the spectacular open Place Bellevue showing the family tree of the 140 families from Italy who founded Le Cannet in 1441.
Perhaps the most visited attraction however is the Musée Bonnard. Pierre Bonnard who died in 1947 lived and worked in Le Cannet and regularly walked the village streets and the Roman contour path for inspiration. Matisse described him as “the greatest amongst us”. Many of his major works are on exhibition at the Museum and it is well worth a visit.