Lérins Islands

The Lérins Islands are a small archipelago off the Cannes coast in the French Riviera, comprising several islets with two principal islands, Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat, noted for historic fortifications and monastic life.

Sainte-Marguerite is best known for the 17th-century Fort Royal and a maritime museum housed there, with walking paths and beaches. Saint-Honorat is dominated by the Lérins Abbey and its cloisters and vineyards, and visitors can tour the abbey complex and taste monastic wines.

The islands have been occupied since antiquity; the abbey on Saint-Honorat dates to the early medieval period and the Fort Royal on Sainte-Marguerite was built in the 17th century as a coastal fortress and later used as a prison. Over time the islands have shifted from strategic military roles to religious and recreational uses.

The islands lie off the coast of Cannes in the Bay of Cannes, accessible by short ferry from Cannes and nearby ports on the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur coast of southern France.

• Access by ferry: Ferries run from Cannes and nearby ports, with crossings typically taking about 15-30 minutes depending on the route and destination island.
• Monastic winery and abbey: Saint-Honorat has a working monastic community and produces wine; visitors can view the abbey buildings and monastic vineyards on guided or independent visits.

What to See #

• Île Sainte-Marguerite: The larger island off Cannes features the 17th-century Fort Royal, now a maritime museum, and wooded promenades that circle the island.
• Île Saint-Honorat: A smaller, more monastic island hosting the 5th-century Lérins Abbey, whose community maintains vineyards and a small museum and church complex.