Croix des Gardes

Croix des Gardes rises above Cannes as a protected hillside park with forests, Mediterranean maquis and Provençal vegetation. Mimosa stands bring strong scents and bright colour, especially during their flowering season. Botanical paths wind through the preserved landscape, while viewpoints at Maquis, Roquebillière, Croix du Cèdre and Brougham open across the Bay of Cannes. From these heights, you can see the Lérins Islands, the Estérel Massif and the Pre-Alps in a broad panorama.

Wildlife adds movement to the wooded setting, with birds, donkeys and horses among the paths. A fitness trail with outdoor equipment also shares the park with walkers and joggers. Within the grounds, the Château de la Croix des Gardes brings a different character through its neo-Palladian design and Italian-style gardens. Paul Girod commissioned the château for his estate, and Alfred Hitchcock later used its interiors and gardens for To Catch a Thief. Hidden garden paths and the château’s cinematic connection leave a memorable contrast with the quiet hills above Cannes.