Ile Sainte Marguerite
Beautiful island just off the south coast of Cannes with stunning views of the Riviera
The gorgeous island of Saint Marguerite is the largest of the islands off the coast of Cannes. Regular ferries run from Cannes and only take around 15 minutes, yet this small island made up of a quiet pine forest and pretty coves feels far separated from the glitzy boutiques and hotels of Cannes.
Covered with pine and eucalyptus forest and edged with beautiful coves, this is an island to enjoy nature. The waters are crystal clear, with stunning views back to the Riviera coastline. There are only about 20 houses on the island in a small village near the ferry dock; the rest of the island is covered in forest, with an old fort and museum where you can explore the island's Roman and Crusader history, as well as its final days as a notorious French prison and soldier's hospital. The are a couple of restaurants for refreshments, and daily ferries provide access.
History & Culture in Cannes
This 17th century fort gained notoriety for housing the 'Man in the Iron Mask' - a prisoner during the time of Louis XIV and immortalised by the writers Voltaire and Alexander Dumas (and by Leonardo DiCaprio in the 1998 film of the same name).
The rest of the island is covered with pine forests and walking trails - exploration of which will no doubt lead you to your own little beach or cove.
Sights & Attractions in Cannes
The main attraction is the fort and old prison, the Royal Musée de la Mer. You can see the cells and old Roman cisterns; the museum also houses artefacts from Roman and Saracen shipwrecks. There's a small cemetery for French and North African soldiers nearby. Go there and check it out for yourself.
Sights in Cannes
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Musee de la Mer, Ile Sainte-Marguerite
Situated within the Royal Fort on Ile Sainte-Marguerite in the Bay of Cannes, this museum is a place not only of learning but also of rich history.
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Musee Picasso (Chateau Grimaldi)
The Picasso museum is housed in the Chateau Grimaldi in the centre of the town of Vallauris. The chateau was built over a Roman fort in the 16th century.
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Fort Royal Museum, Ile Sainte-Marguerite
In 1617, the Duke of Guise gave Jean de Bellon the task of building a fort intended to block sea access to Cannes. Constructed between 1624 and 1627 on the site of remains that dated back to Roman antiquity, at the time it was nothing more than a simple fortified house.
Beaches in Cannes
With sandy stretches and private rocky coves, the beaches on this small island are well worth the trip over alone.
Beaches in Antibes
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The Cap d’Antibes' Beaches
Cap d’Antibes is a stunning and famous headland of grand villas with sweet-smelling pines, Belle Époque hotels and rocky, tranquil coves.
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Port de l'Olivette Beach, Cap d'Antibes
This small beach and boat shelter is a popular spot, not only with sunbathers but also with keen photographers. The brightly coloured small boats bob in the crystal clear waters just off the beach.
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Plage du Pont du Lys Beach, Juan les Pins
This relatively narrow sand beach is a beach of two halves. The town end is mostly taken up with beach clubs offering a pricey, decadent day lolling about on a deckchair or a pontoon.
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Plage des Ondes Beach, Cap d'Antibes
This is a small but popular public beach on the west coast of the Cap d'Antibes, to the north of Port de l'Olivette.
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Grande Plage Beach, Juan les Pins
This is the main beach of Juan-les-Pins, and it’s also one of the widest. This is a great beach with lots of sand, a great view and a buzzing energy in the summer months.
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Plage du Crouton Beach, Cap d'Antibes
Also known as Plages Les Pecheurs, Plage du Crouton is a small strip of fine white sand situated on the far side of the Port du Crouton.
Dining in Cannes
There are two restaurants and two snack bars on the Ile Ste-Marguerite. However, since you are on a beautiful island for the day it's nice to take a picnic with you. On the island you'll find a large number of picnic areas where the views are fantastic and the shadow of the pine trees is much appreciated in the summer. Furthermore they are close to the sea if you want to pop in for a quick swim.
Restaurants in Cannes
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La Guerite Restaurant, Ile Sainte-Marguerite
Located just off the coast of Cannes, on the island of Sainte Marguerite is the beautiful La Guerite restaurant.
Things to do in Cannes
You can easily walk around the island in a couple of hours, on forest paths that smell of pine and eucalyptus. There are sculptures to look out for in the trees, as well as a lagoon for birdwatching. You can clamber over the rocks along the beach looking for creatures in rockpools, or just settle on the beach for a day of relaxing, snorkelling and picnics.
Things To Do in Cannes
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Motorbike hire
Based in Cannes, motorbike and scooter rental so you can explore the South of France.
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Road bike hire
This company is based in Cannes and offers a wide range of road bikes, with delivery available to Antibes.
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Airxkite Kitesurf, Cannes la Bocca
Airxkite offers full courses on kite surfing, including theory and practical. All Airxkite classes in the water take place between April to November.
How to get to Cannes
Regular ferries run from Cannes and only take around 15 minutes. Ferries and boat trips also run from St Tropez, Antibes and Nice.
Transfers for Antibes
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Private airport transfers
From Nice airport to Antibes, they handle the rest. The Côte d’Azur's most trusted private transfers.
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Car Riviera Airport Transfers
Car Riviera offers a range of cars available for hire with a driver to chauffeur you either to and from the airport, for sight seeing trips or just to and from dinner so you can sit back and relax. Large vehicles such as Espace and Multi vans are at your disposal.
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Helicopter Transfers and Scenic Flights
With a long history and experience in the VIP transport industry this company is proud of its personal and high-quality services.
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Chabe Airport Transfers
Chabe Transfers are a renowned luxury transfer and taxi service operating in the French Riviera.
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Private Jet and Helicopter Transfers
With an International fleet of jets and helicopters based across Europe it is quick and easy to get a private charter flight for business, pleasure or an airport transfer.
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Helicopter Charter Flights
Heli Securite offer transfers on a helicopter from the airport to your yacht or various destinations in and around the Cannes area, St Tropez and Monaco. In addition to this they also service all of the main French ski resorts from their base in Courchevel.
