Château d'If
Château d'If
4.5
About
This famous fortress, standing on a rocky island off the coast of Marseille, was immortalised by Alexandre Dumas in The Count of Monte Cristo as the prison where the novel’s hero, Edmond Dantes, was incarcerated before ultimately escaping. The castle was built by Francois I in 1524 and over the centuries it gained a fearsome reputation as many opponents of royal power were jailed and died in the fortress. The Castle of If has been perfectly preserved and is one of the most impressive historical sites on the Mediterranean coastline. Open: > 15th May to 20th September: from 9.30 a.m. to 6.15 p.m. > 21st September to 14th May: from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. The last visit depends on the timetable of boats, information at the tourist information center, on our website monuments-nationaux.fr or on Frioul If express. Closed: > Mondays from 21st September to 14th May. > 1st January, 25th December and subject to bad weather. Admission fees: Adults : 5,50 €; Concessions (18 to 25) = 4 €; Free admission: minors under 18*; Free admission: 18-25 years old* (citizens of one of the 27 countries of the EU or are non-European permanent residents of France) * excluding school groups.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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- FoodangeManchester, United Kingdom4,797 contributionsTous pour un, un pour tous!We could see the island in the distance from our apartment and were really looking forward to our visit. For just €7 each we had a great visit. From the boat up the hill we went and there were leaflets in a dozen languages, all with great maps and descriptions. Once inside the castle there was a good mix of stories, truthful and literary, the latter with the emphasis of course on Alexandre Dumas and his novels. Real graffiti on the walls was very moving, as were the stories of why so many were incarcerated for very little reason. The lighthouse looked funky, dressed up for the Olympic Flame Relay in Marseille. Good little café serving drinks and snacks. A fabulously interesting outing.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 2 July 2024
- Cruiser4306232904910 contributionsGreat experience taking boat from the port of Marseille to visit Chateau d’IfChateau d’If is a must see when in Marseille. The castle built in 1529 was Marseille’s first royal fortress. From the inner courtyard, to the dungeons, to the incredible view from the terrace you will be swept away by the charm of this castle that is nestled on an island that you will have to take a boat to from the old port of Marseille.Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 2 August 2024
- Keith DRichardson, Texas1,242 contributionsCool Island, Great ViewsWe took the ferry out to the island as part of a Marseille activity pass. Get to the ferry office early to secure your tickets as the island is quite popular. Note that the ferry price does not include the island tour itself, there is another pay station when you arrive which caught most ferry guests by surprise and burns valuable visiting time for the boats later in the day. Nice display describing the prison and its relationship with the author Alexandre Dumas. Worth a visit but give yourself more time than you would anticipate.Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 1 September 2024
- Dustyfoot.NomadMarseille, France110 contributionsA castle island prison steeped in history, and panoramic views.The Dustyfoot.nomad visited Château D'if with a tour group, and we were not disappointed at all. The boat ride was quite enjoyable and a relatively short distance from the Vieux port. The castle itself is very well preserved, and so is its history. Being inside the castle gives a real experience of what life was like for the prisoners held there during their time there. It has featured in the works of the French writer Alexandre Dumas, most notably the 'Count of Monte Cristo'. In some of the dungeons, there are some interesting art exhibitions. Similarly, within the castle itself, there's a souvenir/gift shop dedicated to the history of the castle. The grounds of this castle island offer panoramic views of Marseille from the sea. Also there's a restaurant on site facing towards the Marseille shore. Chateau D'if is a must visit when in Marseille, very beautiful place.Visited July 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 2 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
1,796 reviews
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sarah b
9 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Great experience, however recommend book on line if possible the day before or at the port at 9am when they confirm if they can travel to the island. Otherwise queues can be large and you may have to wait several hours for next available departure. Also online tickets have separate queue
Written 28 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jus 60
6 contributions
Jul 2022
This chateau was used a prison and is the setting for the book and film the Count of Monte Christo.
Well preserved, with lots of information, this makes an interesting visit.
The small on site cafe serves snacks, drinks and main meals as affordable prices.
Well preserved, with lots of information, this makes an interesting visit.
The small on site cafe serves snacks, drinks and main meals as affordable prices.
Written 9 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bavarianbasti
100 contributions
Oct 2022 • Couples
Despite the boats going quite frequently you need to buy your tickets for the boat ride to the island in advance. We went to buy our tickets at 10:30am and the earliest boat was 14:35, so be aware of that. While the boats are separate from the Island, i.e. they just take you there and back and you still have to pay on the island, I somewhat see the whole experience as one. The ride itself is roughly 15minutes and you need less than 90min on the island. We read and saw everything and it took us 70min total.
The island is small but you get good views from there and obviously also nice views when the boat goes in and out of the old harbour in Marseille.
If you have a couple of hours to spare, it's a nice little excursion.
The island is small but you get good views from there and obviously also nice views when the boat goes in and out of the old harbour in Marseille.
If you have a couple of hours to spare, it's a nice little excursion.
Written 29 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pseudo1609
Salon-de-Provence, France14 contributions
Nov 2024 • Family
We came on a beautiful sunny Saturday with the CMC. The day was really great from start to finish.
I booked a family visit. We learned a lot about this island and castle and we had a great time.
I don't know if this is the case for all visits but at the end, the children were treated to a small introduction to fencing (with wooden stick) which was very appreciated.
We had taken the boat about 2 hours before our visit time which then gave us time to picnic and go around the island.
On site there is a restaurant where we had dessert. The location is... 8€ the pancake on a table not cleaned and poorly cleared. Nice staff.
Back to the old port with the penultimate boat of the day: everything was fluid and well managed.
I booked a family visit. We learned a lot about this island and castle and we had a great time.
I don't know if this is the case for all visits but at the end, the children were treated to a small introduction to fencing (with wooden stick) which was very appreciated.
We had taken the boat about 2 hours before our visit time which then gave us time to picnic and go around the island.
On site there is a restaurant where we had dessert. The location is... 8€ the pancake on a table not cleaned and poorly cleared. Nice staff.
Back to the old port with the penultimate boat of the day: everything was fluid and well managed.
Automatically translated
Written 2 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mphipps11
15 contributions
Sept 2022
We took lebateau to both Chateau D'If and L'ile de Frioul. We were unpleasantly surprised when disembarking at Chateau d'if that we would have to pay in order to actually access the island. The castle itself was a neat piece of history (if you're interested in prisons), but being the only exhibit on the island I don't think it was worth the 6 euros. Stunning landscape but I would skip it next time.
Written 15 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fiorella M
Milan, Italy74 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
The former prison can be visited with an entrance fee of €6.
In my opinion it is worth it, both for the visit and for the view you can see from the castle. The only flaw is the informative part regarding the history of the building and its link with "the Count of Monte Cristo", which is not very captivating.
I recommend also visiting the other Frioul islands.
In my opinion it is worth it, both for the visit and for the view you can see from the castle. The only flaw is the informative part regarding the history of the building and its link with "the Count of Monte Cristo", which is not very captivating.
I recommend also visiting the other Frioul islands.
Written 21 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JoannaFthegrumpy
London, UK95 contributions
May 2024 • Solo
This was a shambles. We hung around waiting and being told "the captain is at sea so we can't sell you any tickets" when we arrived 30 minutes before the firet advertised sailing.
Then the 11.15 trip was moved to 12.15. I think if you happened to be nearer the people behind the windows of the shed thing they work in, you might have heard a slightly fuller explanation. Hut then again, that doesn't really seem to be this outfits style.
Life is not this difficult. The weather forecast gives you a fair idea beforehand of what conditions might be like the following day. Your business model should not be tourists continuously joining the queue, getting to the front and being shooed off to the side where everyone else is hanging around and then leave everyone to hang round some more on the off-chance someone might get out of bed (that's how it comes across, rather than a serious issue like weather conditions) and then basically taking down the advertised time. End of excursions for the day. Get an information board at least. Or better yet. Have enough boats, staff and alarm clocks,
There. I've saved you all some time. You're welcome
Then the 11.15 trip was moved to 12.15. I think if you happened to be nearer the people behind the windows of the shed thing they work in, you might have heard a slightly fuller explanation. Hut then again, that doesn't really seem to be this outfits style.
Life is not this difficult. The weather forecast gives you a fair idea beforehand of what conditions might be like the following day. Your business model should not be tourists continuously joining the queue, getting to the front and being shooed off to the side where everyone else is hanging around and then leave everyone to hang round some more on the off-chance someone might get out of bed (that's how it comes across, rather than a serious issue like weather conditions) and then basically taking down the advertised time. End of excursions for the day. Get an information board at least. Or better yet. Have enough boats, staff and alarm clocks,
There. I've saved you all some time. You're welcome
Written 24 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Foodange
Manchester, UK4,797 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
We could see the island in the distance from our apartment and were really looking forward to our visit.
For just €7 each we had a great visit.
From the boat up the hill we went and there were leaflets in a dozen languages, all with great maps and descriptions.
Once inside the castle there was a good mix of stories, truthful and literary, the latter with the emphasis of course on Alexandre Dumas and his novels.
Real graffiti on the walls was very moving, as were the stories of why so many were incarcerated for very little reason.
The lighthouse looked funky, dressed up for the Olympic Flame Relay in Marseille. Good little café serving drinks and snacks.
A fabulously interesting outing.
For just €7 each we had a great visit.
From the boat up the hill we went and there were leaflets in a dozen languages, all with great maps and descriptions.
Once inside the castle there was a good mix of stories, truthful and literary, the latter with the emphasis of course on Alexandre Dumas and his novels.
Real graffiti on the walls was very moving, as were the stories of why so many were incarcerated for very little reason.
The lighthouse looked funky, dressed up for the Olympic Flame Relay in Marseille. Good little café serving drinks and snacks.
A fabulously interesting outing.
Written 2 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dustyfoot.Nomad
Marseille, France110 contributions
Jul 2024 • Friends
The Dustyfoot.nomad visited Château D'if with a tour group, and we were not disappointed at all. The boat ride was quite enjoyable and a relatively short distance from the Vieux port.
The castle itself is very well preserved, and so is its history. Being inside the castle gives a real experience of what life was like for the prisoners held there during their time there. It has featured in the works of the French writer Alexandre Dumas, most notably the 'Count of Monte Cristo'.
In some of the dungeons, there are some interesting art exhibitions. Similarly, within the castle itself, there's a souvenir/gift shop dedicated to the history of the castle.
The grounds of this castle island offer panoramic views of Marseille from the sea. Also there's a restaurant on site facing towards the Marseille shore.
Chateau D'if is a must visit when in Marseille, very beautiful place.
The castle itself is very well preserved, and so is its history. Being inside the castle gives a real experience of what life was like for the prisoners held there during their time there. It has featured in the works of the French writer Alexandre Dumas, most notably the 'Count of Monte Cristo'.
In some of the dungeons, there are some interesting art exhibitions. Similarly, within the castle itself, there's a souvenir/gift shop dedicated to the history of the castle.
The grounds of this castle island offer panoramic views of Marseille from the sea. Also there's a restaurant on site facing towards the Marseille shore.
Chateau D'if is a must visit when in Marseille, very beautiful place.
Written 2 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dimitris L
Sydney, Australia51,995 contributions
Jul 2019
We travelled by boat to this intriguing little island not knowing what to expect. We knew it had some history. The trip was not very long. We only had limited time before the boat came back for the return trip to the city. It is a beautiful island, very small but full of history. It served as a fort and was meant to offer protection against invasion and it also protected the country's fleet. It became part of France in 1480. It has also served as a prison to many. However it is probably more famous as the island of The Count of Monte Cristo. And there is plenty of that too. It is definitely worth a visit.
Written 28 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonjour les chiens en laisse sont ils admis sur l île ? Merci
Written 13 January 2020
Bonjour,
en réponse a votre mail nous vous informons que les chiens sont uniquement tolérés en laisse sur le site,et interdit a l’intérieur du monument.
nous vous restons a votre disposition pour de plus amples informations
bien cordialement
CENTRE DES MONUMENTS NATIONAUX
Château d'If
8, rue Glandevès
13001 Marseille
04 91 59 02 30
06 03 06 25 26 (port)
04 91 59 05 62 (fax)
Written 14 January 2020
Qual empresa faço uma reserva para o chateai d'if? Que inclua barco e entradas
Written 23 July 2019
Trajet simple :
Traversée Aller ou Retour
Tarif par personne : 5,60 €
Trajet Aller/Retour 1 île :
Vieux Port - île du Frioul OU Vieux Port - île d'If :
Plein tarif par personne : 10,80 €
Trajet Aller/Retour combiné 2 îles :
Vieux Port - île d'If PLUS île du Frioul
Plein tarif "combiné" par personne : 16,20 €
L'accès à l'île d'If est payant (tarif adulte : 6 € - achat des titres sur place)
les bâteaux frioul assurent 7j/7 une liaison maritime régulière vers l’archipel du Frioul au départ du Vieux Port.
Embarquez à la découverte du Château d’If et du Frioul pour une escapade en mer d’exception a bord de l' Edmond Dantes et le Henri-Jacques Esperandieu,
- bâteaux conçu pour tous les temps, sauf tempête de Mistral
voir
se deplacer a marseille transports-navettes-maritimes
Written 17 May 2019
Attention si vous souhaitez faire les îles du frioul après pensez à prendre le bon billet 2 îles !!@
Written 18 May 2019
Hi can you buy the tickets for the extended trip to the other island together?? Does it take all day?? Thanks
Written 2 May 2019
Yes you can, you can pick the sites according to the different schedules offered
Written 23 June 2019
bonjour .les petits chiens sont ils accepter .coton de tulléar dans un sac a dos expres pour chien
Written 16 April 2018
oui dans ces conditions je pense qu'il n'y a pas de probleme puis une laisse pour visiter et sac pour ramasser bonne visite
Written 17 April 2018
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