Croisette Boulevard

The sea breeze carries salt and the scent of palm trees. The pavement is wide and pale beneath your feet. On one side lies the calm water of the bay. On the other stand tall hotels with bright white fronts. You are walking the Croisette, the long promenade along the shore of Cannes. People move slowly here. The light off the Mediterranean is soft and clear.

The promenade runs for about two kilometers. It follows the curve of the bay from end to end. Rows of palm trees line the path. Flower beds break the stone with color. Out on the water, white boats rest at anchor. The name Croisette comes from a small cross that once stood near the eastern point. The word means little cross in French.

The hotels along the Croisette are part of its story. The Carlton opened in 1911. Its white walls and two round domes face the sea. The Martinez came later, in the 1920s, in the Art Deco style. These buildings were made for visitors who came to rest by the water. In the cooler months, the wealthy of Europe once filled their rooms.

There is a story about the Carlton's two domes. People say the architect shaped them after the figure of a famous dancer of the time, La Belle Otero. This is a local legend, not a proven fact. Still, the tale is told often along this street. Look up at the pale curves against the sky. You can decide for yourself what they bring to mind.

Each spring, the Croisette changes. The Cannes Film Festival fills the hotels and the beaches. Cars line the road. Cameras point in every direction. For a few weeks, actors and directors from many countries walk this same pavement. Then the crowds leave. The street returns to its slower rhythm, open to anyone who wants to walk it.

The beaches sit just below the promenade. Much of the sand here was brought in by people. The natural shore was once stony. Many beaches belong to the hotels and clubs. You pay to use their chairs and umbrellas. But there are free public stretches too. The water is shallow and calm near the edge, good for a slow swim.

Look toward the sea and you will notice the islands. They are the Lerins Islands, close to the shore. The nearest is wooded and green. Boats leave for them from the old port nearby. From the promenade, they seem to float on the horizon. They give the bay its frame and make the view feel complete.

The shops along the inland side sell clothes, jewelry, and perfume. Many carry well-known names from Paris and Italy. Their windows are bright and carefully arranged. You do not need to buy anything to enjoy them. Window shopping is part of the walk here. The displays change with the seasons, like everything else along this street.

At the western end stands the large festival hall. Its wide steps are covered in red carpet during the film festival. In front of it, the pavement holds handprints of film stars set in clay tiles. You can crouch down and place your own hand beside theirs. Many visitors stop here for a photograph before walking on.

Benches face the water all along the route. They are good places to rest. Older residents come to sit in the late afternoon. Children run past toward the sand. Joggers pass in the early morning, before the heat. The Croisette belongs to many kinds of people. Each uses it in their own way, at their own hour.

As the sun drops, the light turns gold. The hotel fronts glow warm against the darkening sky. Lamps switch on along the path. The water shifts from blue to silver to gray. This is a fine time to walk slowly. The day's heat fades. The sea air grows cool and soft on your skin.

The Croisette is, in the end, a simple thing. It is a place to walk beside the sea. The fame and the festival come and go. The water stays. Take your time here. Notice the palms, the light, the slow movement of the boats. Some places ask you to look hard. This one asks only that you slow down.