The Suburbs of Cannes and its Surroundings – Golfe-Juan

Les Quartiers de Cannes et ses Environs:
The Suburbs of Cannes and its Surroundings:
Golfe-Juan & Vallauris:

The setting of Golfe Juan just five kms east of Cannes, and 3 kms from Juan les Pins and the Cap d’Antibes is magnificent. The panoramic views of the Bay of Cannes, the Iles de Lerins and the Esterel Mountains are exceptional, and the shoreline breathtakingly picturesque.

In the heart of the village is Quai St. Pierre where the fishing boats still come in each morning with their catch which is laid out for locals to buy fresh while the fishermen repair their nets by hand seated on stools on the pier.

Just across the breakwater, Port Camille Rayon is home to many of the most fabulous super-yachts on the seas – to wander amongst them is to drool and be amazed.

Lining the Quai St Pierre and Port Camille Rayon are many wonderful restaurants, all tumbling onto the waterside when the weather is good (which is most of the time). Fish and Provencal specialities of course top the bill, but some of the best Italian food this side of the border is also available on the Port. Prices are reasonable, and more affordable than in Cannes or Juan les Pins, although for really fine dining two of the region’s most renowned restaurants, “Tetou” and “Nounou” overlook Golfe Juan’s popular and public beach. They have been there for generations are well worth the treat if one ever has the opportunity.

Golfe Juan is twinned with Vallauris whose name is synonymous with pottery. The origins go back to artisans from Genoa who discovered the fine pottery clay in the surrounding forests in the XVIth century, and the industry has flourished here ever since.

Picasso took a great interest in painted decorations on earthenware and supported and sponsored a great revival of this village while he was alive. Today many of his works are exhibited in the Ceramics Museum, the Modern Art Museum and the Picasso Museum just down the road in Antibes. Today there are 200 master potters working in Vallauris and Golfe Juan.

Every year in February Golfe Juan celebrates the “Fete Napoleon” over an entire weekend of festivity and recreation, period clothing and camping on the beaches, cannon rolls and marching bands. It is to commemorate Napoleon’s landing in this port and on these beaches on his return to France after exile in Elba on March 1st 1815. Here he gathered his troops and set off via Cannes and Grasse along what we know today as the “Route Napoleon” to Paris, to reclaim his throne. As far as Golfe Juan is concerned, what an excuse for a party!