LE VIEUX PORT DE CANNES - 17 JANVIER 2018
DÉCOUVREZ CANNES DESTINATION
LE VIEUX PORT
Au pied de la colline du Suquet, le Vieux Port et le quai Saint-Pierre : c'est ici que tout a commencé. Site incontournable du paysage cannois, le Vieux Port doit beaucoup à Lord Brougham. Ce lieu de vie en perpétuel mouvement est le lien naturel entre le Cannes des paillettes et le quartier historique du Suquet.
Un port pour se protéger
Lord Brougham joua de son entremise pour accélérer la création d'un port au pied du Suquet. Pendant cent ans, les pêcheurs réclamèrent une digue pour se protéger du labech, ce vent du sud-ouest qui peut déclencher de furieuses tempêtes. Ensorcelé par le site, le bienfaiteur intervint auprès du roi Louis-Philippe. La ville reconnaissante érigea à cet homme providentiel une statue en 1898. Vous pouvez admirer la seconde version au milieu des Allées de la Liberté.
Mais c'est un autre Anglais, le prince de Galles Albert-Edouard, fils aîné de la reine Victoria et futur Edouard VII, qui posera en 1898 la première pierre de la jetée qui porte son nom. Avant d'être couronné, le prince de Galles avait fait de Cannes son quartier général, contribuant ainsi au rayonnement de la ville et au développement de la navigation de plaisance.
Une situation privilégiée
En bordure d'un front de mer idyllique et au pied du Suquet, le Vieux Port jouit d'un emplacement privilégié. L'image ne serait pas complète sans les îles de Lérins qui lui font face. Partie ouest du port, le quai du Large avec la gare maritime d'où partent les navettes pour les îles de Lérins et l'hélistation ; partie est, la jetée Albert-Edouard qui longe et prolonge le Palais des Festivals. Enserré par ces deux bras, le Vieux Port et la promenade à deux voies de la Pantiero.
L'embellissement du quai Saint-Pierre
En décembre 2012 eut lieu l'inauguration du nouveau quai Saint-Pierre. Rénové et embelli, le quai historique de la ville de Cannes méritait un lifting à la hauteur de sa situation exceptionnelle. Les aménagements offrent désormais aux piétons un espace plus ouvert, ce qui valorise ce haut lieu touristique et commercial.
En cohérence avec ces travaux eut lieu en 2014 l'embellissement de la jetée Albert-Edouard. Considérée comme l'extension du Palais des Festivals, la jetée peut aujourd'hui accueillir 50 unités de grande plaisance.
Le quai des vieux gréements
Bien avant le cinéma, c'est au yachting que Cannes doit son rayonnement international. Les premières Régates Royales datent des années 20. Les grandes fortunes d'alors, principalement des têtes couronnées, viennent se mesurer à la barre de leurs yachts dans la baie de Cannes. Les Régates Royales ont été créées en 1929 pour honorer Christian X du Danemark. Depuis, chaque année en septembre, amarrés quai Saint-Pierre, les vieux gréements sont à l'honneur : une centaine de yachts classiques et de tradition, dont la plupart sont uniques, affutent leurs voiles pour la plus belle des joutes maritimes.
Avant l'évènement des Régates, se tient Cannes Yachting Festival, le festival international de la plaisance. Le cadre pittoresque du Vieux Port devient la vitrine d'exposition de quelque 500 bateaux.
Le Vieux Port en fête
Depuis 2013, lors du dernier week-end de juin, le port de Cannes est en fête. Cette manifestation populaire organisée par la Chambre de commerce de Nice Côte d'Azur en partenariat avec la ville de Cannes et le Conseil général des Alpes Maritimes anime le quai Saint-Pierre autour de stands pour enfants, de spectacles divers et d'ateliers créatifs. Les restaurateurs étendent leur terrasse et des concerts prennent vie sur l'esplanade Pantiero.
Filmé avec un iPhone :
Lady Matherson's Memorial
The monument was erected by Lady Matheson in July 1880 in memory of her husband who bought Lews in 1846 and erected Lews Castle. His company made large profits from the opium industry and Lady Matheson acknowledged this by embellishing the monument pillars with poppy heads. The history of Sir James Matheson is detailed in inscriptions on the monument itself.
Inscriptons on the Monument
Inscriptions on the North Side
James Nicholas Sutherland Matheson, second son of Capt. Donald Matheson and Catherine Mackay his wife, was born at Shiness in the Parish of Laing.
The said Capt. Donald Matheson, who died AD 1810 was the last of numerous generations who for centuries held the lands of Shiness, The said James N.S. Matheson was educated at the Academy Inverness, and at the High School, Edinburgh. His class fellows there with whom he disputed the head of the class were The Right Honourable Sir David Dundas: David Lord Marjory-Banks; Sir Robert Christison, Bart: the Second Lord Brougham and Anthony Adrian, Earl of Kintore.
At the age of 17 he went to London and having spent two years in a Mercantile House, at 19 he left for Calcutta entering the Counting House of Messrs. Macintosh and Company.
After a short sojourn in that city, he proceeded to China, and was long resident at Canton and Macao and was one of the founders of the Eminent House of Jardine Matheson and Company.
During his and Jardine's partnership the house acquired that high repute for honour, integrity arid magnificent hospitality which gave a free passport to all using its name throughout the East With the exception of a short visit to his native land in 1835-36, he remained in China till 1842.
On the occasion of his departure he was presented by the Parsee Merchants of Bombay with a service of plate of the value of £15,000 together with address recording their thanks and their high sense of his energy and firmness by which alone they were enabled to surmount the commercial difficulties which had arisen in consequence of the War between England and China. In 1840 he became the owner by purchase of the estate of Achany and Gruids in his native Parish.
In 1842 he became a Member of the Legislature by being elected the representative of Ashburton in Devonshire which seat he vacated in 1847 on being unanimously returned for the combined counties of Ross and Cromartie, which high position he continuously held till 1868 when he retired into private life.
In 1843 he married Mary Jane, the daughter of Michael Henry Perceval, Esq., of Spencer Wood, Quebec; Member of H.M. Legislative Council, by Ann Mary his wife, eldest daughter of Sir Charles Flower, Bart. In 1844 he added to his Highland possessions the Island of Lewis which henceforth became his chief place of residence, devoting the remainder of a long and useful life to ameliorating the condition of the inhabitants of that Island. H.M. Queen Victoria in 1850 testified to her sense of his noble benevolence during the Famine of 1845-46 by creating him a Baronet of the United Kingdom.
Sir James was appointed Lord Lieutenant for Ross-shire in 1866, was likewise a Fellow of the Royal Society, J.P. and D.L. for native county Sutherlandshire. He died at Mentone, France, December 31st 1878, aged 82.
Inscriptions on the South Side
In Memoriam Sir James Matheson, Bart. Born at Shiness November 17th 1796. Married at Edinburgh, November 9th 1843. Died at Mentone, France December 31st 1878. Well done thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of the Lord. Matthew XXV 21
Inscriptions on the East Side
In life a consistent Christian, possessed of those special virtues conducive to the happiness of others and truly has it been said of him That he was a child of God, living evidently under the influence of His Holy Spirit. In person he was a tall, handsome noble-looking man with a beautiful placid expression of benevolence and a winning kindness and dignity of manner.
Inscriptions on the West Side
On this Monument is added the name of Dame Mary Jane Matheson who, during her husband¹s life aided him in the benevolent and philanthropic works carried out for the benefit of the Island of the Lews and its inhabitants and who during eighteen years of lonely widowhood endeavoured to fulfil the trust he had reposed on her. Died in London March 19th. Interred at Lairg, March 26th 1896. She hath done what she could. Mark XIX, 8
The Memorial was restored in 2006 by the Stornoway Amenity Trust and the Memorial's landlords, the Stornoway Trust.