Île Sainte-Marguerite and Fort Royal

Île Sainte-Marguerite is the larger of the two Lérins Islands off Cannes, on the French Riviera in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France, and is reached by a ferry of about 15 minutes from Quai Laubeuf in the Old Port. The island is about three kilometres long and covered in Aleppo pine and eucalyptus forest, with marked footpaths, rocky coves and a few small beaches. Its best-known landmark is Fort Royal, a 17th-century fortress that housed the mysterious prisoner known as the Man in the Iron Mask, and it now contains the Musée de la Mer.

Visitors arriving at the main landing quay follow a shaded path to the fort, which has ramparts with views toward Cannes, the Esterel hills and the open sea. Inside, the Musée de la Mer displays archaeological finds from a Roman and Saracen shipwreck, along with the cells of the prison, including the one attributed to the Man in the Iron Mask. The forest trails around the island make a circular walk of about 3 to 4 kilometres, passing a small lake, a marine reserve shoreline and sheltered coves suitable for swimming in summer.

A visit typically takes a half day, from 3 to 5 hours, including the ferry, the museum and a walk. The Fort Royal and museum open roughly 10:30 to 13:15 and 14:15 to 17:15, with later summer hours, and should be confirmed locally. Ferry tickets cost about EUR 16-20 return, run by operators such as Trans Côte d'Azur and Compagnie Planaria, and the museum is about EUR 7.

Crowds are greatest in July and August around midday, when day-trippers fill the paths and beaches. Taking an early ferry gives a calmer start, and the island is pleasant from May to October. A small restaurant near the landing serves lunch, but many visitors bring a picnic, drinking water and sun protection, as shade and facilities are limited away from the main quay.