Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes - the same one that millions of people around the world see the reports about the famous Cannes Film Festival. Even so the palace is worth a look, though, perhaps, during the week he does not will make a strong impression.

Its history is inextricably linked with the history of the festival. In the late thirties of the XX century French artists rebelled outright intervention of Mussolini and Goebbels in the organization of the Venice Film Festival. Film critic Emile Vuillermoz and writer and actor René Jeanne suggested to the Minister of Education in the government of the Popular Front of Jean zayu organize the World film festival in France. The idea was supported by the Americans and British, boycotting Cinema in Venice.

President of the first festival has agreed to become the great Louis Lumiere. The Americans have just released a tape "Quasimodo", promised to erect at the Cannes beach a replica of Notre Dame de Paris. But on 1 September 1939 on the opening day, Nazi Germany invaded Poland, the war began, the festival was canceled.

The first Cannes Film Festival was held shortly after the war, in 1946. In 1949, the city government built for kinoprazdnika special palace on the Croisette, but it gradually became too small (in place of "La Croisette, Palace" is now in the hotel "Marriott Cannes"). And in 1982, the festival has a new home - where before there was the municipal casino, at the beginning of the Croisette, near the old port. It is this palace is now known to all viewers as the venue for the world's biggest film festival.

It gained worldwide acclaim films of Fellini, Bergman, Antonioni, Wajda, Buñuel, Kurosawa. But it is not only prestigious "Palme d'Or" glorified Festival: on it in 1955, Prince Rainier of Monaco met American actress Grace Kelly. A year later they were married, and the current ruler of the Principality Albert II - their son.

The building is huge: 35 thousand square meters. However, its aesthetic qualities are questionable, it looks something like the Palace of Congresses times of socialism: a lot of concrete and glass (the citizens from time to time even offer to rebuild the "bunker"). It leads to the front door wide "ladder of success". During the festival in front of her line the red carpet on which stars are photographed. On ordinary days, on the stairs, tourists taking pictures of each other. Along the facade passes Avenue of Stars, in its mounted the pavement tiles with handprints of famous actors and directors.

Inside the building is impressive: it is full of modern facilities here are excellent light and acoustics. The upper floors and terraces offer stunning views of the old town, the port, the Croisette, the Lérins Islands. The palace hosts exhibitions, conferences and congresses, international festivals: advertising ("Cannes Lions"), jazz, flamenco, games, fireworks. In 2011, it was immediately passed the summit of "twenty", chaired by France.