If castle

Fortress island between Legend and History

Built at the beginning of the Renaissance, under the reign of François I, the Château d’If stands with its towers and ramparts on an island in the Frioul Archipelago off Marseille. An impregnable fortress and formidable prison, the Château d’If is now one of the most visited tourist monuments in the city of Marseille. Discover a citadel that is part of Marseille’s heritage, where history is mixed with legend!

A citadel to protect Marseille

The Mediterranean sea contributes to Marseille prosperity but was also at the origin of tragic events.The city was besieged by the armies of the Holy Roman Empire in 1524 and only saved by its walls and the announcement of the arrival of French reinforcements

François Ier,aware of strategic importance of the city (prosperous port open to the Mediterranean Sea), decide to reinforce its defenses by building an impregnable fortress on a islet beaten by the ‘Mistral’ but occupying a strategic position on the access road to the calanque of the Lacydon this massive and powerfully armed fortress had a triple function :

Prevent an enemy fleet from invading the city by the sea, as was the case in 1423 by Aragonese troops.

To protect the royal arsenals, and to cover the exits and entrances of galleys anchored there
To reinforce the Royal hold, on a proud and independant minded city, which became a part of the kingdom at the end of the 15th century at the same time as Provence.

Fortifications had been reinforced in 1702 by Vauban which included the construction of low coastal batteries and a new barracks. This exceptional military architectural ensemble was classified as a historical monument on July 7th 1926.

A prison state where no one can escape

If castle is assigned with a new mission in the service of the royal security, then imperial and republican. These massive walls prevent unwanted visitors from entering, but also from escaping when you stay there. Surrounded by the sea, If castle is definitely an impregnable prison. Prisoners should break their chain first, force the doors and walls, then diving into a rough sea and manage to swim 1.5 km in the midst of currents while escaping the vigilence of the guardian!

Opponents of the regime had been locked up there between 1480 and 1871. The château d’If thus welcomed Protestants during the Wars of Religion, and Republicans after the riots of 1848 and the coup d’état of December 2, 1851 led by the future Napoleon III.

A visit to the dungeon of the Chateau d’If bears witness to the prisons past. During your walk in the heart of the building, you will be able to observe engravings made by former prisoners.

A rhinoceros in If Castle island

In 1516, the king of Portugal sent an amazing gift to Leon X Pope: a living rhinoceros! On the way to Rome, the animal landed on the island of If to stretch its legs. Unfortunately, the animal never made it to port: a storm sank the ship that was carrying it off the coast of Genoa. This exceptional event for its time was immortalised by several artists, including Albrecht Dürer, who made a famous woodcut of the animal.

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The famous prisoners of If Castle

If Castle had been home to several historical characters involved in the history of Marseille and France. Jean Baptiste Chateau, the commander of the grand Saint-Antoine, the ship that brought the great plague of 1720 to Marseille, was incarcerated here. The prison also housed Louis Auguste Blanqui, the Famous anarchist and author of the newspaper ‘Ni Dieu ni Maitre‘ whose name continues to embody the values of this movement.

Fiction and Legend have also made their way into the walls of Chateau d’If .Edmond Dantès, the vengeful hero of the novel The count of Monte Cristo was imprisoned in the chateau d’if by the pen of Alexandre Dumas. Tradition will tell us that the man in the iron mask, the unknown and mysterious prisoner whose identity and secrets could have shaken the throne of Louis XIV stayed there. The film The Man in the Iron Mask released in 1998 in which the famous Leonardo Di Caprio and Gérard Depardieu starred comes to mind.

Where does the story end ? When does legend begin? You need to make up your own opinion during your visit to the Chateau d’If.

A breathtaking view of all of Marseille

The experience of a lifetime is not just about a discovery about rooms.The terrace of the great tower offers a breathtaking view on the ’archipel du Frioul‘,with Pomègues and Ratonneau. You can admire the ruins of Hopital Caroline intended for quarantine of travellers arriving by sea.

The city of Marseille can be admired.You will be able to see the Corniche, a promenade by the seaside dominates the rocky coastline. If you look up, you will see Notre-Dame de la Garde, dominated by the statue of the Virgin which is entierely covered in gold.

To the south, the Marseilleveyre massif and the first calanques display their peaks, their cliffs and their white limestone ridges, and are draped in a coat of scrubland. The island of Maïre and the island of Tiboulen de Maïre mark the gateway to the wildest creeks.

To the North you can see the hills and creeks of la Côte bleue, where many very well known beaches between Marseille and Martigues are waiting for you.

Practical information

Address

Archipel du Frioul, Marseille 7ème

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