Île Sainte-Marguerite

The larger of the Lérins Islands, Île Sainte-Marguerite sits just 15 minutes by ferry from the Vieux Port. The island is mostly forested — 80% pine and eucalyptus — with walking paths circling the coastline and cutting through the interior. No cars are allowed, and the calm after the noise of the Croisette is immediate.

Fort Royal dominates the north shore. Originally built in the 17th century, it houses the Musée de la Mer (Museum of the Sea), which holds Roman amphorae, Saracen ceramics, and mosaic fragments recovered from the seabed nearby. The cell associated with the Man in the Iron Mask is the main draw, though the island's quiet beaches and swimming coves are equally good reasons to come. The western tip has some of the best snorkelling on the Côte d'Azur.

things to do sight
A story
The most famous prisoner ever held in the Fort Royal on Île Sainte-Marguerite was the Man in the Iron Mask — a mysterious figure who wore an iron (or velvet) mask at all times and whose identity has never been conclusively established. He was held here from 1687 to 1698 before being transferred to the Bastille in Paris, where he died in 1703. Alexandre Dumas turned the mystery into a novel; the cell where he was held can still be visited.