Château d'If

King Francis I of France recognized the strategic importance of the Île d’If for the defense of Marseille after his victory at Marignano in 1515. Although the city had the privilege of organizing its own defense, the king ordered the construction of a fortress. Between 1524 and 1531, the Château d'If was built to protect the harbor entrance and secure the city's supplies. The residents of Marseille viewed the fortress as a symbol of royal power and protested. Despite the resistance, the facility proved its worth as early as 1536, when Charles V had to abandon his attack on Marseille due to the strong fortifications. In the mid-16th century, the Château d'If was converted into a prison due to its isolated location. Numerous state prisoners, including Protestants and political opponents, were incarcerated here. In the 18th century, it also served as a place of detention for sons from noble families who were imprisoned without trial by royal warrants. The fortress gained fame through Alexandre Dumas' novel "The Count of Monte Cristo," which set part of its plot here.

The castle is situated on the Île d’If, a small island approximately one nautical mile off the coast of Marseille in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of France. It is about 16 m above sea level.