The story of the Lérins Islands
Sainte-Marguerite, the larger island, is covered in pine and eucalyptus forest. Its Fort Royal was used as a state prison, and from 1687 to 1698 it held the mysterious Man in the Iron Mask, whose identity is still debated. His cell can be visited in the fort museum.
On the smaller island, Saint-Honorat, Saint Honoratus founded a monastery around 410, one of the oldest in Europe. Cistercian monks still live there today, among their vineyards and a fortified medieval monastery by the sea.
