Haut-de-Cagnes is the medieval hilltop village that sits above the modern town and beach resort, reached by a steep climb or a shuttle bus from the lower town. It is one of the better-preserved hill villages on the French Riviera — a warren of cobbled lanes, stone archways, Renaissance doorways, and geranium-draped terraces, with the 14th-century Château Grimaldi at its summit.
Renoir, Modigliani, Soutine, and Cocteau all spent time in and around the village, drawn by the quality of the Mediterranean light. Several small galleries and artists' studios are still active here. The views over the coast and the Var plain are wide and clear. It is easily the most interesting part of Cagnes-sur-Mer.