History & Civilisation
Cagnes-sur-Mer seems to have appeared in the 11th century. Because of its proximity to the Var river which serves as a border between the County of Provence and that of Savoy, in 1388 it became an important border post.
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Having suffered many border conflicts in the 16th century, the town experienced a period of calm during the reign of Louis XIII before undergoing further invasions under the reign of Louis XIV and Louis XV.
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Like the rest of the coast of the Alpes-Maritimes, the territory of Cagnes-sur-Mer deliveres traces of ancient occupations. Among them, include an antique farm in Mill Cassol (near the station) and a ceramics workshop at a place called Saint-Veran. The first site presents itself as a small building housing watershed related grape and olive presses for producing wine and oil.
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The history of the city is closely linked to that of its castle. Indeed, it is in 1309 that Raynier Grimaldi, lord of Monaco, becomes lord of Cagnes-sur-Mer. He built a castle that will soon become a property of the Antibes branch of the Grimaldi, until the French Revolution.
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In the 17th century, Jean-Henri Grimaldi, Marquis de Corbons and Baron de Cagnes, under the protection of Louis XIII and Richelieu, transforms the medieval castle into a comfortable residence where he leads a lavish life. But during the French Revolution, the Grimaldi family is evicted from the city. The castle was abandoned until someone bought and restored it in 1875.