Iles de Lerins

Sainte-Marguerite is the larger island, wooded with pine and eucalyptus and circled by paths, with the Fort Royal at its northern end; a cell there held the masked prisoner of the 1680s whose identity has never been established and who became the Man in the Iron Mask in Dumas and elsewhere. Saint-Honorat, smaller and to the south, has been a monastery since around 410 and is still occupied by Cistercians who farm eight hectares of vines and make wine and liqueur; a fortified monastery tower stands on the shore. There are no cars, no hotels and few facilities on either.

What you actually see

• Fort Royal - the prison fort with the masked prisoner's cell.
• The monastery vineyards - Cistercians working eight hectares on Saint-Honorat.
• The fortified tower - a medieval sea tower on the monastery shore.
• The island paths - pine and eucalyptus circuits with clear water below.

When to go

April to June and September to October; boats run year-round with reduced winter service and cancel in rough weather. The islands are calm even when Cannes is not.

Honest expectations

Two separate boat companies serve the two islands and tickets are not interchangeable. Facilities are minimal, so bring water and food. Saint-Honorat is a monastery and silence is expected in parts.

Nearby

Cannes is the departure point; Antibes lies east along the coast.