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Château d'If

Château d'If is a 16th-century fortress on the small island of If, in the Frioul archipelago, about 3.5 km from Marseille's old port. Built on the orders of King Francis I between 1524 and 1531 to defend the coast, the castle never came under real attack and was soon turned into a state prison, used to hold political and religious prisoners. Its walls are covered with graffiti left by inmates. Visitors can walk through the cells, including the 'pistoles' (individual cells for wealthy prisoners) and the communal dungeons, and see a cell dedicated to Edmond Dantès, the protagonist of Alexandre Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo. The castle offers panoramic views over the Bay of Marseille and is reached by boat from the old port. It is a historic monument and one of the city's most visited sites, with almost 100,000 visitors a year.

Things to do at Château d'If: 2 missions

• Take in the unique panorama from Château d'IfTake in the unique panorama offered by Château d'If facing Marseille.
• Discover Château d'If's jettyDiscover the jetty built to provide access to Château d'If.

Near Château d'If

Source: chateau-if.fr