The soul of Cannes can be found in Le Suquet
The historic neighborhood of Le Suquet is where Cannes reveals its authentic soul – far from the glamorous life along the Croisette. Here in the heart of old Cannes, charming experiences, narrow alleys and an atmosphere filled with history await.
Medieval streets take you to the top
The Le Suquet neighborhood is pedestrian-only and several pleasant routes wind up to the top of Mont Chevalier.
One of the most popular is Rue Saint-Antoine, the oldest street in the city. If you follow this cobbled street all the way up, you’ll end up at Place du Suquet – the perfect starting point for exploring the area’s sights.
If you want to go straight up to the viewpoint at the La Castre museum, you can choose Rue du Mont Chevalier, which is just 50 meters from Rue Saint-Antoine. A breathtaking panoramic view of Cannes and the Mediterranean awaits.
Le Suquet’s sights – art, history and views
Close to Place du Suquet you’ll find Le Suquet des Artistes, a creative art space with an unusual history. Formerly the city morgue, the space has been transformed into a vibrant gallery dedicated to Cannes’ local artists. The 850 m² space features works by four renowned artists: Olivier Domin, Richard Ferri-Pisani, Grégory Berben and Olivia Paroldi.
If you head east towards the harbor, you’ll come across two of Le Suquet’s most iconic sights:
- Notre-Dame d’Espérance – Cannes’ oldest church from 1642, known for its beautiful Gothic architecture and peaceful atmosphere.
- Musée de la Castre – a museum of world discovery with an impressive collection of antiques, ethnographic treasures and works of art. From here you can also access the nearby tower where you can enjoy stunning views of Cannes and the bay.
To reach these sights from Place du Suquet, you can choose between two routes:
- “The expressway” up the stairs Tower work for the direct way up.
- The more charming route via Rue du Pré and Rue Louis Perrissol, passing small galleries and cozy courtyards along the way.
Image gallery from Le Suquet:
Rue du Suquet
Place du Suquet
Place du Suquet
Rue du Perrissol
Rue du Perrissol
Church of Notre-Dame d'Esperance with the Romanesque tower from 1642
Place de la Castre with the museum La Castre
The view from Place de la Castre
Le Suquet – a historical look back
Le Suquet’s history goes back a long way and follows the development of many towns along the coast of southern France. The first settlers were probably the Ligurians, who settled both on the hill of Le Suquet and on the island of Saint-Marguerite.
Archaeological excavations from the 1970s have revealed traces of a fortified settlement from the 6th century BC, testifying to the strategic importance of the area. This strategic location also attracted the Romans, who during their conquests established a military post known as Castrum – a name that lives on today in the La Castre museum.
After the Romans withdrew from France in 486, it took around 500 years for the monks from the Lérins Islands to take over the area. In 1000, the monks took control of Castrum and expanded the fortification with both towers and ramparts, which protected the area from attack for centuries.
It wasn’t until the end of the 15th century that the monks retired to the monastery at Saint-Honorat and Le Suquet became an independent commune.
One of Le Suquet’s most striking landmarks, the church of Notre-Dame d’Espérance, was begun in 1521, but construction was delayed by wars and the great plague epidemic and was only completed in 1642. During the Second World War, the church was even used as a temporary hospital.
Today, the square in front of the church serves as the stage for the popular music event “Nuits musicales du Suquet“, which takes place every July and attracts both locals and visitors from around the world.
By Tommy Sverre -updated 2025
