Île Sainte-Marguerite (Saint-Marguerite Island), Cannes

The Saint-Marguerite Island (Île Sainte-Marguerite) is the largest island among the Lérins Islands, located just a short distance from the coast of Cannes, a city on the French Riviera. It stretches about 3 kilometers (almost 2 miles) from east to west and is around 900 meters (half a mile) wide. The island is best known for its historic Fort Royal, a fortress prison that once held the mysterious Man in the Iron Mask in the 17th century.

You can get to Saint-Marguerite Island from Cannes with a quick 15-minute boat trip. The island has a low-lying, densely forested landscape filled with umbrella pines and eucalyptus trees. Both this island and its neighbor, Île Saint-Honorat, are managed by the French National Forestry Office and attract many visitors interested in their natural beauty.

In summer, the area becomes a hotspot for boaters who anchor in the calm waters between the islands or off the coast of Sainte-Marguerite, where there's plenty of space for water sports like water skiing and parasailing.

The local village on Sainte-Marguerite consists of around twenty buildings, mainly housing fishermen. There's also a small boatyard and a few spots where tourists can grab a bite or a drink.

Today, the Fort Royal is home to a youth hostel and the Museum of the Sea, which displays artifacts from ancient shipwrecks. Visitors can check out several old prison cells, including the one where the Man in the Iron Mask was supposedly kept, and a Roman cistern.

Near the fort, there's a small cemetery for French soldiers who passed away during their recovery period after the Crimean War, and there's also a burial site for North African soldiers who fought for the Allies in World War II.

A regular ferry service from Cannes to the island operates throughout the year, making it accessible to visitors.