Sainte-Marguerite and its royal fort
The larger of the two Lérins Islands, Sainte-Marguerite, can be explored on foot under the eucalyptus trees. You reach the Royal Fort, where the Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned, and its sea museum. The southern coves, with their crystal-clear water, invite a swim. A picnic sheltered by the pines, feet in the sand, is a world away from the bustle of La Croisette: perfect for truly talking.
Saint-Honorat, the island of monks
Smaller still, Saint-Honorat belongs to the Cistercian monks who live there and have grown vines for centuries. You visit Lérins Abbey and the fortified monastery perched over the sea, you taste the monks’ white wines in the shop. The island can be walked around in an hour, in a rare silence. A stroll by the water’s edge, then an abbey glass shared on a terrace: an intimate, different date.
Pointe Croisette and seafront
Back on the mainland, Pointe Croisette extends the boulevard to the Palm Beach headland, where turquoise waters lap on both sides. Bikes, rollerblades or quiet walkers, the people of Cannes gather here at weekends. On Lyad, locals share their favourite coves and boarding points; it is up to you to find someone to catch the boat to the Lérins with.
Date ideas
- Lérins Islands
- Sainte-Marguerite Island
- Saint-Honorat Island
- Royal Fort
- Lérins Abbey
- Pointe Croisette
- Palm Beach
