The Madeira of France, as Doctor Pietra Santa would say in 1862 when speaking about Le Cannet. The territory of the commune stretches over seven hills and comprises seven districts. In Roman times, Le Cannet was located on the Via Julia leading to Arles. The town of Le Cannet is divided into districts, each with its own uniqueness.
Among others, there is the residential Haut Cannet where this Roman road passed, and the most interesting Vieux Cannet, where the history of this commune, neither city nor village, is written.
In the 5th century, Honorat founded a monastery here attached to Lérins. In the 15th century, following the devastation of wars and plague epidemics, the monks of Lérins repopulated Le Cannet with 140 families from Oneglia in Liguria. They cultivated the land, settling between 1441 and 1500. The monks of Lérins were also soldiers and built the Danys Tower to defend Le Cannet.
Prosper Mérimée, always eager to preserve historical monuments, nicknamed it the Tower of Brigands. In 1774, with Louis XVI, Le Cannet became an independent commune from Cannes and Mougins.
The visitor will inevitably linger in the old Cannet, a district or rather a village of artists. Pierre Bonnard purchased the Villa Le Bosquet in 1926, living there for 22 years until his death. This villa is now a museum paying tribute to this painter. The religious heritage is significant: Churches: Saint Philomena, Catherine, and Saint Saviour decorated by Tobiasse; not forgetting the chapels Notre Dame des Anges and Saint Bernardin. Lovebirds will certainly come to Le Cannet to kiss in front of the walls painted by Peynet.
Le Cannet was a meeting place for artists: Victorien Sardou, Prosper Mérimée, and the tragedienne Rachel came to Le Cannet to die in 1858. Closer to our time, Aga Khan built his villa overlooking the sea there.
Le Cannet, quite far from the Croisette and the artificial glitz of Cannes, retains the charm of a village with Pierre Bonnard in his house where we are the guests. The artist seems to emerge from the depths of a corridor to greet us; this is the magic of this museum, where his presence haunts the rooms, walls, and corridors.
Thierry Jan
