Cagnes sur Mer

An out-of-the-ordinary place just a few km from Nice and close to Saint Paul de Vence.
This small settlement surrounded by hills, olive groves, palms, flowers and mimosa is divided into Cagnes ville; modern and commercial, Haut de Cagnes; typically medieval, and Cros de Cagnes; a fishermen’s village.
Of particular interest is Haut de Cagnes, the medieval village perched on an isolated hill, crowned by the imposing castle that was the first seat of the adventurer Ranieri Grimaldi, and then the luxurious home of Enrico Grimaldi, who subsequently thrown out by local revolutionaries. The castle has kept intact its splendor and beauty, with a double-ramp entrance, a monumental Louis XIII door, and an internal courtyard surrounded by marble stairways, colonnades and finely decorated rooms.

In more recent times, these parts captured the attention of one of the founders of impressionist painting: Pierre-Auguste Renoir. At Cagnes-sur-mer, Renoir painted to the end of his life, with landscapes, portraits, nudes, and still-lifes, and it was here in particular where he started his interest in sculpture.
Strolling along the narrow streets of this seaside village, one can breathe in the perfumes of the Provencal cuisine and catch colors and views remembered from art-history books.

Cagnes also boasts a beautiful horserace track, which in the 50’s was the scene of one of the most exciting moments in Italian horse history, with a famous duel between trotters Tornese and Crevalcore, still remembered by lovers of Italian racing.
Cagnes-sur-mer offers, therefore, unrivalled possibilities for lovers of unusual places, with its medieval past, the racetrack, and one of the most important maritime settlements in the Alpes Maritimes, all making it a beguiling place of charm.
Luxury hotels and small romantic restaurants clustered around the castle complete this unmissable medieval jewel.

CAGNES-SUR-MET OFFICE OF TOURISM
6, bd Maréchal Juin F-06800
CAGNES-SUR-MER
Tel : +33(0)4 93 20 61 64
Fax : +33(0)4 93 20 52 63