“Impregnable fortress” isn’t just a saying here at Traverse du Château. In 1524, Marseille faced siege by the Holy Roman Empire. The city’s walls and the timely arrival of French reinforcements saved it. That close call spurred François I to action. He recognized Marseille’s strategic importance as a prosperous port city.
Standing here at Traverse du Château, you are witnessing part of that defense strategy. François I ordered the construction of an impregnable fortress on a nearby islet. This was to protect Marseille and reinforce royal control over the independent-minded city. Marseille had only recently become part of the kingdom.
The Château d’If served a triple function. It was meant to prevent enemy fleets from invading the city by sea. This had occurred in 1423. Aragonese troops had invaded then. It was also to protect the royal arsenals and the galleys anchored there. Finally, it was to keep a firm grip on Marseille itself.
Later, in 1702, Vauban reinforced the fortifications. He added low coastal batteries and new barracks. This military architectural ensemble earned historical monument status on July 7, 1926.
The Château d’If became famous as a prison. Alexandre Dumas immortalized it in “The Count of Monte Cristo.” Edmond Dantès was imprisoned here. From 1580 to 1871, the Château d’If served as a prison for political prisoners and those of different nationalities.
Many visitors come to see where Edmond Dantès was said to have been held. The island’s residents had to dig a tunnel because reality surpassed fiction.
The Comte de Mirabeau was imprisoned. His father had him locked away. This was supposedly to protect him.
Located three kilometers off the coast of Marseille, the island faces the full force of the mistral winds and rough seas. Escape was nearly impossible. Weather conditions often proved harsh.
The Château d’If receives around 100,000 visitors each year.