Château d'If

Okay, so the Château d'If is this really famous old castle right off the coast of Marseille. The main thing you gotta know is that it's famous because of the book, The Count of Monte Cristo, which used it as the ultimate prison. King Francis I built it way back in the 16 th century to protect the coast, but it ended up being this crazy, inescapable state prison—basically France's version of Alcatraz. You take a quick boat ride from the Old Port to get there, and the minute you see it on the island, it looks super isolated. The view of Marseille from the top is awesome, but the best part is walking around the cells. They even have the fictional one for Edmond Dantès, which is cool. You learn that if you were rich, you got a nice cell (called a "pistole" cell) with a window and fireplace. But if you were poor, you were stuck in a dark, gross dungeon. It's a total must-see if you love that book or just want to explore a spooky piece of history.

We finally made it to our most awaited visit! Although, we must admit, we weren’t thrilled about the bright sunshine. But hey, there’s a restaurant right there if you’re in the mood for a quick beer. Overall, the place is pretty good, and the route is amazing. It’s just 20 minutes from the Marseille Vieux Port, making it a great spot to visit during the summer. The view from the fort terrace is simply breathtaking. You can see the big Frioul Island on one side and the city of Marseille on the other. It’s always a treat to watch the big cruise ships and small boats passing by. The fort is well-maintained and preserved, and there’s not much to see inside, but it’s definitely worth a visit at least once.

Gorgeous views, a must of you're in Marseille. You take a boat from the Old Port and it takes you to the island. We spent there around 2 hours and grabbed a boat back to the Old Port. The boat ticket to the island was 18eur

Takes about 30-40 mins in the ferry, lovely ride and costed us 11 Euros for the Ferry and 7 euros for the entry to the castle. The place is very scenic surrounded by water and one can see different islands around as well. The castle has the stories and posters that you can read about it's history.

Pretty bummed that they close down at the slightest hint of bad weather. Smooth seas, calm winds, and cloud cover? Closed. Boo. This was the only reason we got off the ship. Not much else to see in the area except the Notre Dame, which is worth maybe a ln hour or two including the tiny train tour that takes you to the top.

Absolutely beautiful,a highlight of Marseille. It has a beautiful view of Marseille. Although there's not that much in the castle and it can be a bit pricey, I would suggest it as a must do.

If you are visiting Marseille, take some time to visit this historical site. Easy 20 ferry ride from the port and then we spent about an hour walking through the old prison dungeons and enjoying the outdoors with great views. There is even a cafe to grab a drink before you head back to main land.

Amazing ferry ride out to the Château. Amazing place to visit! Loved the dome at top where the voice echos when you talk. We also loved the old graffiti from the prisoners.