France · Côte d'Azur
Yacht Charter Îles de Lérins
Two islands twenty minutes off Cannes — one with a fort that held the Man in the Iron Mask, one with a working monastery and a vineyard.
The Lérins are the reason a Cannes week is worth having. Twenty minutes off the Croisette lie two islands with no cars, no hotels and almost no buildings: Sainte-Marguerite, wooded and long, with a royal fort on its northern shore; and Saint-Honorat, smaller, where Cistercian monks have lived continuously since the fifth century and still make the wine.
Sainte-Marguerite
The larger island is covered in umbrella pine and eucalyptus with paths running its length, and the Fort Royal on the north shore held the prisoner known as the Man in the Iron Mask for eleven years from 1687. His cell is open and is exactly as unremarkable as such rooms are.
The channel between the two islands — the Plateau du Milieu — is shallow, sandy and the best anchorage on this part of the coast.
Saint-Honorat
The monastery has been here since about 410, which makes it one of the oldest continuously occupied religious sites in Europe. Around thirty monks live on the island, farm eight hectares of vines and sell the wine themselves; the fortified tower on the shore was built in the eleventh century against Saracen raids and can be climbed.
There is nothing else on it — no shops, no cars, one restaurant open at lunch — and the path round the island takes about forty minutes.
Practical notes
- Twenty minutes off Cannes, and the anchorage in the channel between the two islands is the best on this coast
- No cars on either island; Saint-Honorat has one restaurant and Sainte-Marguerite a handful
- The Fort Royal on Sainte-Marguerite held the Man in the Iron Mask from 1687, and the cell is open
- Nice airport is fifty minutes by road from Cannes
Reached from: the Balearics and the western Mediterranean
Where to dine
A table by the water
La Guérite
Sainte-MargueriteOn the north shore of the larger island, reached by tender, and lunch that is designed to run into the afternoon.
La Tonnelle
Saint-HonoratThe monks' own restaurant, open at lunch only, serving the wine they make eight hectares away.
L'Escale
Sainte-MargueriteBy the landing stage, simpler and quieter, and where the island's few residents eat.
What to do
Anchorages & excursions
Fort Royal
On Sainte-Marguerite's north shore, where the Man in the Iron Mask was held for eleven years from 1687. The cell is open.
The Lérins monastery
Cistercian, occupied continuously since about 410, with thirty monks farming eight hectares of vines they sell themselves.
The fortified tower
Eleventh century, on Saint-Honorat's shore, built against Saracen raids and climbable for the view over both islands.
Plateau du Milieu
The shallow sandy channel between the two islands, and the best anchorage on this part of the coast.
The fleet
Yachts available for the Îles de Lérins
Vessels that operate here, from flagship motor yachts to smaller crewed boats. Every rate is quoted on enquiry.
Good to know
Questions we are asked about the Îles de Lérins
- Where do you anchor at the Lérins?
- In the channel between the two islands, the Plateau du Milieu — shallow, sandy and the best anchorage on this part of the coast.
- What is on Saint-Honorat?
- A Cistercian monastery occupied continuously since about 410, thirty monks, eight hectares of vines they farm and sell themselves, and an eleventh-century fortified tower on the shore. Nothing else.
- What does a yacht charter to the Lérins cost?
- It depends on the yacht, the season, the crew and the positioning, so we quote on enquiry rather than publish a figure that would be wrong for most weeks.
Destinations
Nearby destinations
Charter here
Enquire about a charter at the Îles de Lérins
Tell us your dates and how many of you there are, and we will come back with the right yacht and a full quotation.