Museum of the Iron Mask and Fort Royal, Maritime museum at Fort Royal on Île Sainte-Marguerite, France
The museum of the Iron Mask and Fort Royal sits within a 17th-century fortress on Île Sainte-Marguerite off Cannes. Inside the stone walls are displays covering maritime history, regional archaeology, and what daily life was like for prisoners held here.
The fortress began as a military base and later became a state prison in the late 1600s. It gained fame after holding the mysterious Man in the Iron Mask from 1687 to 1698.
The walls display paintings by Jean Le Gac, and a memorial honors six Protestant pastors imprisoned here after religious edicts changed. These artworks and tributes reflect the struggles of those held within these stone rooms.
To reach the museum, take a ferry boat from Cannes to the island, which takes about 15 minutes. The ferry dock lands you right near the fortress entrance.
Shipwreck remains from Roman and Saracen vessels lie on the seabed around the island and are displayed in the museum. These underwater discoveries show how these waters served as a route for merchants and raiders across many centuries.
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