September 7, 2025

French City Dedicates Boulevard Winston Churchill

On August 24, 2025, the City of Cannes marked the 81st anniversary of its liberation in World War II with a solemn ceremony at the Hôtel de Ville. Each year, the commemoration honors the courage and sacrifice of the French Resistance fighters and Allied soldiers who freed the city during Operation Dragoon in August 1944. This year’s ceremony carried added significance with the official renaming of the Promenade de la Pantiero as Boulevard Winston Churchill.

For Mayor David Lisnard and the municipal leadership, this tribute was long overdue. “The necessary tribute to Winston Churchill was lacking; the inauguration of this boulevard remedies this omission,” the mayor said during his remarks.

As Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the war, Churchill forged close ties with France and often visited the Côte d’Azur, where he was known to relax, write, and paint. His affection for the city has remained part of its cultural memory. As the Nice-Matin newspaper reported, Churchill’s presence in Cannes symbolized both his personal fondness for the Riviera and his lasting legacy as a statesman who defended freedom during Europe’s darkest hour.

Representing the Churchill family, ICS UK Board member Jennie Churchill attended the ceremony with her daughter Arabella at the invitation of the Mayor of Cannes. She reflected on the significance of the occasion:

“It was a great honor to attend the annual Liberation commemoration in Cannes with my daughter Arabella. This solemn ceremony at the Hôtel de Ville is imbued with memory and respect, bringing the people of Cannes together around the values of courage, sacrifice, and freedom—values upheld by those who fought for democracy and freedom and which must be passed to future generations. As part of this year’s commemoration, the Promenade de la Pantiero was officially renamed Boulevard Winston Churchill. Sir Winston’s affection for Cannes, where he stayed on several occasions, remains a source of pride and inspiration to the city, and the Mayor’s thoughtful invitation is a powerful symbol of the enduring friendship between France and Great Britain.“

The unveiling of the new boulevard plaque took place in front of Cannes’ war memorial, beneath which the names of the city’s fallen are engraved. Local veterans, civic leaders, and residents joined together to witness the dedication, which also featured a prominent display of Churchill’s portrait. The ceremony not only commemorated those who gave their lives for France’s liberation but also reaffirmed the enduring Franco-British friendship that Winston Churchill fostered and deeply valued.