1 Casino, Monte-Carlo
2 Corniche d'Or
3 Èze
4 Fondation Maeght, St-Paul-de-Vence
5 Îles de Lérins
6 MAMAC, Nice
7 Musée Matisse, Nice
8 Musée Océanographique, Monaco
9 Musée Picasso, Antibes
10 Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Take refuge from crowded Cannes on these two tiny islands, perfect for a stroll, a swim and a picnic, or to visit their important religious sites.
The charming, car-free Îles de Lérins lie just 15 minutes by ferry from Cannes. They are named after two saints - Saint Honorat, who founded a monastery on the smaller of the two islands at the end of the 4th century, and his sister Sainte Marguerite, who set up a nunnery on the other island - and were once the most powerful ecclesiastical centres in the south of France.
Île Ste-Marguerite is the largest of the islands. Its main attraction is undoubtedly the Fort Royal, which contains the Musée de la Mer (Maritime Museum), with Ligurian, Greek and Roman artefacts excavated on the island alongside objects recovered from ships sunk off its shores. The fort was built under Richelieu, strengthened by Vauban in 1712, then restored under Napoléon. Used as a prison from 1685 until the early 20th century, its most illustrious occupant (from 1687 to 1698) was the mysterious 'Man in the Iron Mask' whose identity is still unknown. Île St-Honorat maintains an active monastery. The 19th-century Abbaye de Lérins is open daily to visitors, and the Cistercian monks produce lavender, oranges, honey and a sweet liqueur, made from aromatic Provençal plants. Both islands offer pleasant walking trails. One of the most enjoyable is a shaded route round Île St-Honorat, past the seven chapels scattered across the island, of which Chapelle de la Trinité and Chapelle Sainte-Croix are particularly interesting.Restaurant: Restaurants/cafés (Moderately priced)
Boat: Compagnie Maritime Cannoise Phone: 04 93 38 66 33. Ferry crossings daily in summer, 7:30-4:15. Restricted service in winter. Journey times: St-Honorat 30 min; Ste-Marguerite 15 min
Admission: Combined ticket for Ste-Marguerite and St-Honorat: moderate
Info: Cannes: Palais des Festivals, 1 la Croisette Phone: 04 93 39 24 53
Fort Royal
Address: Île Ste-Marguerite
Phone: 04 93 43 18 17
Open: Summer: 10:30-12:15, 2:15-5:30; winter: varies
Accessible: Few
Admission: Cheap
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