Off the coast of Cannes stand two small islands – Île de Saint-Honorat, and Île Sainte-Marguerite. Both are part of the Lérins Islands – or les Îles de Lérins as French call them. When you are in Cannes, you can’t miss them! And while these islands might not be as known as the Cannes Film Festival, they should be on any Cannes Itinerary as far as we are concerned! Visiting the Lérins is for sure one of the top things to do in Cannes!

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Lérins Islands

While Saint-Honorat and Sainte-Marguerite are the two largest islands of the group off the French Riviera in the Mediterranean Sea, the Lérins are actually composed of four islands, with Saint-Ferréol and Îlot de la Tradelière as well. The first two are inhabited, the last two are not.

Île de Saint-Honorat

Ile de Saint Honorat (Saint Honorat Island), is home to the fascinating Abbaye de Lerins (Abbaye Notre Dame de Lérins), which has been inhabited by Cistercian monks since AD410, though both islands already had residents during the Roman era. At that time, Saint Honoratus came to live as a hermit on this island called Lerina by the Romans, where a community and a monastery were quickly built around his presence. It is supposed that the patron of Ireland, Saint Patrick,  came to Saint-Honorat to study in the fifth century.

Nowadays, about twenty monks still live in the monastery.

A great way to experience the monastery is to attend Sunday mass, which is open to visitors.

Saint Honorat Monastery

Saint-Honorat Wine & Products

In addition to their prayer time, the monks cultivate beehives, lavender, and vineyards, from which they create and sell from the Abbaye shop different honey, lavender oil, wine, and their liqueur specialty, the Liqueur Lérina Jaune created at the end of the 19th century by the monks. One a week, wine tasting is available at the Abbaye.

Saint Honorat Vineyard

Fortified Tour Monastère

Medieval ruins from an 11th-century monastery (Tour monastère) sit right by the shore, picture-perfect! After centuries of attacks by the Sarrazins, different fortifications were built around the monastery, including the Tour Monastere (Monastery Tower), with work spreading from the 11th to the 14th century. The Tower is currently under renovation and is closed to the public.

Saint Honorat Monastery Tower

Saint-Honorat Services

A monastery hotel (hôtellerie monastique) where guests are welcome for monastic retreats is open for short stays.

The island features a nice restaurant, La Tonnelle, where you can enjoy traditional Mediterranean cuisine with incredible shore views.

The monks also run the only boat trips to the island, with departures from Cannes’ jetty Albert-Edouard.

Shore on Saint Honorat Island

Île Sainte-Marguerite

The main infrastructures on the island are located around the former Fort Royal. Some of the earliest buildings were built around 1625 before extensions and reinforcements were ordered by Richelieu during the fights against the Spanish when they briefly occupied the two islands. Vauban even came and made further suggestions to improve the defensive architecture in the late 17th-century.

The prison, which was integrated into the fortress, has been long considered the last “home” of the Man in the Iron Mask (Homme au Masque de Fer), a man imprisoned during the reign of Louis XIV. The Iron Mask man never removed his mask and his identity never identified. The mystery around him led Alexandre Dumas to include his story in his D’Artagnan saga in the 1840s.

View from Fort Royal on Sainte-Marguerite Island

The former prison is now part of the Musée de la Mer, which also features archeological artifacts found on the island, including mural paintings from the 1st- century AD, the remains of a Roman boat also from 1BCE, and Sarrazin wreck from the 10th-century.

If you are looking for cool water activities, check the Submarine Museum called Comusée Sous-Marin de Cannes. Several sculptures are submerged at about 10 to 15 feet (3-5 meters) underwater at around 240 feet from the shore and can be viewed by most people with snorkel equipment.

Ancient cannon Sainte-Marguerite Fort Royal

To learn about the marine life around the Lerins Islands, stop at the Méditerranoscope.

Sainte-Marguerite Services

Two restaurants are available on the island, though usually open during the summer months.

Several paths will take you around and through the island, a great way to explore Sainte-Marguerite.

An old building on Sainte-Marguerite Island

How to Visit the Lérins Islands

Board a ferry from Cannes to the Lerins Islands. Ideally, spend your morning visiting Saint-Honorat, exploring the Abbaye de Lérins, and tasting some of the products made by the monks. Take your lunch on Saint-Honorat, either at the restaurant, or your own packed lunch.

Head to the Sainte-Marguerite ferry, learn about the Man of the Iron Mask and go for a swim for a relaxing end of your day.

In summer, tickets tend to sell early, so book your ferry tickets now: Lerins Tickets From Cannes | Lerins Ferry from Nice

Boats between Lerins Islands

Another option to admire the Lerins Islands is to cruise around them, taking in the scenic views of the islands’ shores. Board a catamaran for a must-do cruise!

Lérins Islands Travel Tips

• Plan for the whole day if you can. A full day is a must to really take in what both islands have to offer.
• Bring your swimsuit, beach towel, and water bottle to enjoy a relaxing dip in the Mediterranean Sea.
• In summer, temperatures can be pretty hot. That’s the French Riviera after all! Check out our hot climate clothing suggestions.
• While a restaurant is usually available, bring your own lunch and enjoy a French piquenique with views of Cannes or lounging under the shade of a tree.
• Flip-flops are fine if you are headed for a swim, but take sandals or closed-toe shoes if you want to wander the islands, as some areas might take you by rocky areas.
• Make sure to take an English-French phrasebook with you and learn about the history of the Lérins Islands ahead of time for a more enjoyable visit. Grab your copy of the Lonely Planet Provence & the Côte d’Azur travel guide.

Have you been to the Lerins Islands? What was your experience or preferred thing to do in Cannes? Please share with us your adventures!

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