A former fortress built in the 16th century on the islet of If, in the Frioul archipelago, the Château d'If is now classified as a Historic Monument. Built on the orders of François I, it is in the form of a square construction of three floors flanked by three towers. The rest of the island, only three hectares, is occupied by ramparts and artillery platforms.
Considered one of the most visited sites in Marseille, the Château d'If owes its fame in particular to Alexandre Dumas and his novel, The Count of Monte-Cristo. Used as a prison for 400 years, in the 18th century it notably housed Protestants arrested after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. On the interior walls, it is still possible to read inscriptions, vestiges of the passage of certain prisoners on the island.
The Château d'If is accessible via cruises or an express shuttle.
