Cagnes sur Mer

In a Provençal town at the heart of the French Riviera (between Nice and Antibes), Cros de Cagnes is the seaside district of Cagnes-sur-Mer. Here you can make the most of a pebbled beaches just 7 km from the Les Pinèdes campsite. You can also visit Haut de Cagnes, a medieval village at the top of the castle hill. This is the oldest part of Cagnes-sur-Mer.

Cros de Cagnes and the sea front

Originally, Cros de Cagnes, like Cannes, was a fishing village. Cros de Cagnes became a seaside resort only in the 1970s. But although tourism is now more important than fishing, some sailing traditions are still thriving. You can buy fresh fish at the fishermen's market every day from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9am to 12.30 pm, or for early birds, directly from the fishing boats.

There are plenty of water sports now on offer along the coast, ranging from the Optimist to jet skiing via windsurfing, catamaran sailing and other leisure activities.

Enjoy the avenue along the sea front, which is well adapted to visitors on foot, on rollerskates or on a bike.

In Cagnes-sur-Mer there is also one of the few beaches where dogs are allowed. It is opposite the race course, near the mouth of the River Loup.

Haut de Cagnes

Perched on the castle hilltop, the old quarter of the town of Cagnes-sur-Mer was listed as a "historic site" in 1968. Enjoy a walk along the little, steep, pebbled streets, and see some of the original houses and vaulted passageways, as well as wonderful views over the Mediterranean and the Mercantour national park. A trail takes you in the footsteps of the great artists who painted pictures in Cagnes-sur-Mer, including Renoir, Soutine, Derain, Johnson and Vallotton. 12 lecterns have been set up, showing reproductions of paintings by the great masters on the very sites where they placed their easels and painted their original works. There are two other lecterns on the Renoir Estate.

Renoir Museum and Grimaldi Castle Museum

In Haut de Cagnes, you can also visit the Grimaldi Castle Museum. The building dates from the 1300s and was built by the lord of Cagnes, Rainier Grimaldi, an ancestor of the famous royal family of Monaco. It was bought by the town in 1937 and became a museum in 1946. In 1948 it was listed as a Historic Monument. Today, it is home to the Musée de L’Olivier and the Solidor donation, and has some exquisite ceilings painted in Baroque style.

The Renoir Museum is at the heart of a beautiful estate of olive and citrus trees. Following renovation work in 2013, it has the same layout as during the time of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, who lived here for the last twelve years of his life. Some very fine collections are on display here, including 16 original paintings and around 30 sculptures.

Shopping

For fans of shopping, there is a real fashion mecca close by the Les Pinèdes campsite. At the Polygone Riviera you will find a wide range of shops, as well as the Printemps department store, restaurants and a cinema. Plenty of activities for all the family to enjoy.