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The beautiful city of Cannes is world famous for hosting the annual International Film Festival. Cannes is also well known for its sandy beaches and glamorous hotels. Beyond the glitz and luxury, there is also a wealth of attractions for those who enjoy exploring the rich history of southern France. Cannes offers the history buff a variety of museums offering in-depth looks into local history, French art, maritime history, photography, and more.

The Musee de la Castre can be found on the hills in the midst of a ruined medieval castle that once belonged to Lerins monks. The chateau is a French national monument and overlooks the bay and Iles de Lerins. Those who make the effort to climb the castle tower's 109 stairs are rewarded with stunning views of Cannes below.

The museum offers views of an antiquities and art collection left to the town in 1877 by Baron Lycklama, a man enlightened and cosmopolitan for his time. Also to be seen is a diverse collection of Mediterranean and pre-Columbus ceramics and other antiquities. There are rooms filled with art by local painters from the 19th century that open onto the courtyard. There is a large collection of antique and rare musical instruments found all over the globe, which is located in the Saint Anne Chapel. The chapel is in itself an exhibit as it dates from the 12th century, as does the square tower.

For those who may have been fascinated by the story of the ‘Man in the Iron Mask,’ there is the Musee de la Mer. Also classified as a historical monument, the museum can be found in the oldest portion of the Fort Royal on Sainte Marguerite, off the coast of Cannes. The entire ground floor of the facility is dedicated to the mysterious story, including the cell where he was imprisoned and the Huguenot memorial there.

On the first floor of the Musee de la Mer is a huge selection of underwater archaeological finds from ancient ships wrecked off the coast of Cannes. Also at the museum are fragments of ancient Roman wall paintings that were found during the ground excavations at Ile Sainte-Marguerite along with a reconstructed laconicum. If a visitor tires of the exhibits, they can enjoy breathtaking ocean views from the large terrace that overlooks the sea.

Another important museum of Cannes is La Malmaison, the only pavilion left standing of the original Grand Hotel. The Grand Hotel games room was where the first Aime Maeght painting exhibitions were held in 1945. The garden level of La Malmaison remains an exhibit space dedicated to influential artists of modern and contemporary art.

There are smaller, lesser-known museums in Cannes that are worthy of note. The Musee de la Photographie is near the Saint-Jacques Majeur Church and exhibits numerous photographs from a variety of artists. A museum was built as a memorial to Admiral Francois-Joseph Paul, the Musee de la Marine, and features a number of exquisite model ships. One of the area’s oldest museums, the Fragonard Museum, stems from the 1600s and holds the history of one of France's oldest perfumeries including an old factory.

While visiting Cannes and enjoying the sun and sand, don't forget to visit some of the museums of the area. They show that Cannes has a lot more of cultural value to offer than simply a film festival. With so many to choose from, you may have to extend your visit in order to see them all.