Cultural updates on the Lérins Islands

The Lérins Islands are known for their coves, walking trails and peaceful atmosphere. They are also home to a remarkable heritage that many visitors do not always know about.

Two recent additions now offer new ways to explore them. On Saint-Honorat, the monastery tower has reopened after several years of restoration work. On Sainte-Marguerite, the Museum of the Iron Mask now includes an augmented reality experience.

Two very different visits, but the same aim: helping visitors better understand the history of the islands.

 

1. The Saint-Honorat monastery tower is open again

One of the most iconic landmarks on Saint-Honorat, the monastery tower stands out for its unusual architecture. From the outside, it looks almost like a military structure. Inside, it reveals several spaces linked to monastic life. The building has been listed as a historic monument since 1840.

Its reopening offers the chance to rediscover one of the island’s most important sites, at the heart of a wider heritage setting that includes the abbey, the medieval cloister, the chapels and the vineyards.

The visit is a natural addition to a walk around Saint-Honorat. It gives a clearer understanding of the island’s history and of the monastic presence that has shaped it for more than sixteen centuries.

 

2. The Museum of the Iron Mask introduces augmented reality

On Sainte-Marguerite, the Museum of the Iron Mask and Fort Royal offers a different way to explore local heritage.

Located inside Fort Royal, the museum includes the former state prisons and the cell where the mysterious Man in the Iron Mask was held for eleven years.

The new augmented reality experience adds another layer to the visit. It helps visitors picture the history of the site, the people connected to it and the events that took place inside the fort.

This new feature makes the visit more vivid while preserving the site’s unique atmosphere.

 

3. Two islands, two ways to explore history

Saint-Honorat and Sainte-Marguerite offer two very different experiences.

The first focuses on a religious and architectural heritage that is still very much alive. The second takes visitors deeper into military history, the former prisons and the legend of the Man in the Iron Mask.

These two additions are also a good reason to return to the islands, even for those who have visited before.

 

4. An easy cultural escape from Cannes

Boats to the islands leave from the Old Port of Cannes. The crossing is short, making it easy to plan either a half-day visit or a full day out.

From Hotel 7Art, the port is only a few minutes away on foot. Visitors can reach the boats without a car, then return easily to the city centre after the visit.

In a city so closely connected to cinema, image and culture, these two experiences offer a chance to discover another side of Cannes’ heritage, quieter but just as rewarding.

 

5. Which island should you choose?

For a calmer day focused on architecture, scenery and monastic life, Saint-Honorat is the best choice.

For a more historical and immersive visit, with Fort Royal, the cell of the Man in the Iron Mask and augmented reality, Sainte-Marguerite is likely to suit you better.

In both cases, bring comfortable shoes, water and enough time to explore the island on foot after the visit.

 

Two new reasons to visit the islands

The reopening of the monastery tower and the arrival of augmented reality at the Museum of the Iron Mask give the Lérins Islands a renewed cultural appeal.

Beyond the beaches and walking trails, visitors can now discover two important parts of Cannes’ heritage more easily, only a short boat ride from the city centre.

 

Credits

@Abbaye de Lérins

@cannesfrance