Île Sainte-Marguerite
Île Sainte-Marguerite is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Cannes audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~120 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type historic
- Suggested visit ~120 min
- Cannes Cannes guide
About Île Sainte-Marguerite
The larger Lérins island off Cannes: pine and eucalyptus forest, the clifftop Fort Royal where the Man in the Iron Mask was held, and a museum of the sea in its old prison.
Île Sainte-Marguerite is the largest of the Lérins islands, lying just off Cannes and reached by ferry from the old port. About three kilometres long, it is covered by protected forest of pine and eucalyptus, with walking paths, the Batéguier pond and its birds, and quiet coves. On a cliff on its north coast stands the Fort Royal, built in the 1620s, briefly taken by Spain in 1635 and retaken by France in 1637, when it gained its royal name; it was later strengthened on Vauban's recommendations.
From 1685 the fort served as a state prison. Huguenot pastors were held here after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, remembered by a memorial in a former cell, and from 1687 it held the famous masked prisoner known as the Man in the Iron Mask, whose identity has never been proven. The fort now houses a museum, long called the Musée de la Mer, showing Roman and medieval cisterns, finds from ancient shipwrecks and the old prison cells.
Did you know? The clifftop Fort Royal was built in the 1620s, briefly taken by Spain in 1635 and retaken by France in 1637, when it gained its royal name; it was later strengthened on the recommendations of the military engineer Vauban.
How long should you spend at Île Sainte-Marguerite?
Plan about ~120 min at Île Sainte-Marguerite. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Île Sainte-Marguerite worth visiting?
Île Sainte-Marguerite is one of the 13 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Cannes, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Cannes
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Île Sainte-Marguerite and read more:
Day 2 of the Cannes in 2 days itinerary →
Updated:
Hear the story of Île Sainte-Marguerite
Preview the Cannes tour free in the Gingerguide app.