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Cros-de-Cagnes

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History
History

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3.5 km of beaches…

The coastline of Cagnes-sur-Mer offers 3.5 km of pebble beaches that give the Mediterranean its deep blue color.

The water temperature is so mild in our famous “Baie des Anges” that it is possible to swim there all year round!

Le Cros-de-Cagnes is above all a seaside resort and leisure center with a program of relaxation, beach, numerous water sports activities to be practiced all year round, traditional shops favoring the welcome with the “local language”.

For your comfort, several facilities are planned: see the plan

Smoke-free beaches: between spurs n°10 and n°11, between the mouth of the Cagne and the sailing school, between spur n°16 and the limit of Saint-Laurent du Var).

1 Handi-plage rue du Capitaine de Frégate H. Vial (between the Cros-de-Cagnes shelter and the Youth Leisure Center) from the beginning of July

1 beach “dogs allowed” between the spur n°1 and n°2 (in front of the racecourse)

The 6 private beaches of Cagnes-sur-Mer offer complementary services of great quality: catering, rental of deckchairs, mattresses, umbrellas…

Access

Freeway A8 + Exits 47/48 CAGNES-SUR-MER + Direction Bord de mer.

Smart: leave your car in one of the many parking lots in the city center and/or on the seaside and use the free beach shuttle (n°45) in July/August from 10am to 8pm.
Download the route of the shuttle n°45

Fishing village and maritime traditions

This former fishing village became in 1971 a dynamic seaside resort for sea lovers.

If Cros-de-Cagnes attracts today more visitors by its nautical and touristic activities than by its fishing activity, it has nevertheless preserved its maritime traditions.

To become today a subtle mixture between modernity and traditions with its sheltered port, its Chapel of the fishermen in the ochre tones, its pointus, its streets in the names of flowers, its place Saint-Pierre animated by the bowlers, its avenue of the Olive-trees and its tradesmen…

The Beach Promenade

The city of Cagnes-sur-Mer has undertaken a total requalification of its seaside.

Thanks to a global investment of 30 M€, the Promenade de la Plage (for which the city of Cagnes-sur-Mer won the^1st national prize in the City Entrance Competition) has become a successful example and an exceptional place of discovery and leisure.

A land of events

All year long, this Promenade de la Plage becomes the ideal theater for many events that come to animate the seaside of Cagnes-sur-Mer. Thus, the “Dimanches Malins” in the spring, the “Fête de la Saint-Pierre et de la Mer” or the “Promenade en Fête” in the summer attract thousands of people to the seaside, which becomes a pedestrian area for a day or an exceptional evening, to the delight of all!

History

After the French revolution…

The Cros-de-Cagnes is then only marshes and pebbles up to the square of the current chapel, with some isolated huts housing families of fishermen from Menton. These professional fishermen come to Cros-de-Cagnes twice a year for the qualities of this very fishy place (place of passage of the blue fish) and well sheltered (“Cros” means “hollow”).

Very quickly, they decided to settle permanently on these protected shores, then imitated by young Cagnois choosing to abandon their jobs (farmers or traders) to become fishermen. Fishing became an economic issue and the few boats quickly became insufficient. A flotilla of pointus is needed… and so 6 carpenters from Genoa and Naples ensure the manufacture of the “pointus”.

In 1866, the village of Cros-de-Cagnes was put under the protection of Saint Peter, patron saint of abundance, and the chapel was built by the fishermen with a small bell tower on top.

At the beginning of the 20th century…

The Cros-de-Cagnes starts to become a small town with its annexed town hall, its fishermen’s houses with blue shutters (dating from 1928) aligned in a row in the street of flowered villas.

Usually, fishermen also own a small piece of land, allowing them to grow vegetables for their family needs.

The school was built in 1872, followed by a salting shop in the passage des ateliers (1880), a bakery on the Place des Dardanelles, a grocery store and a hairdresser, and a prud’homie in 1900.

Between 1920 and 1930, fishing was at its peak at Cros-de-Cagnes with about a hundred boats and about 200 fishermen providing a living for a thousand people.

In 1939, a shelter port was built, quickly blocked by gravel and pebbles brought by the Ligurian currents.

In 1960, a riprap groin was built, allowing the harbor to accommodate pleasure boats (37 rings) and the entire fishing fleet of Cros-de-Cagnes.

It should not be forgotten that Cros-de-Cagnes is also the oldest sea rescue station on the French Riviera.

Nowadays…

In spite of the evolutions, the “village spirit” remains in Cros-de-Cagnes which has kept its fishing port and its traditions.

Today, Cros-de-Cagnes is a mixture of tradition and modernity juxtaposed where the small port and the fishermen’s chapel in ochre tones rub shoulders with nautical leisure activities practicable all year round, beach restaurants and dynamic commercial activities.

Sun, glide and strong emotions are at the rendezvous of the Cros-de-Cagnes lake, which became famous for its new Promenade de la Plage inaugurated in 2007.

Explore Cagnes-sur-Mer, discover its history and heritage...

Cagnes-sur-Mer, a bustling city!