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Entrance tickets to the Château d'If
Attractions & guided tours
Monuments

Entrance tickets to the Château d'If

Place: Marseille
Validity: Flexible
Mobile voucher accepted

Do this because

  • Discover a unique panorama off the coast of Marseille
  • Uncover the story behind the fortress
  • Enjoy the Count of Monte Cristo permanent exhibition

What to expect

Discover the history of the perfectly preserved "Château d’If", one of the most impressive historical sites on the Mediterranean coastline.

Located on the island of If, the smallest island in the Bay of Marseille, the fortress was built in 1524-31 under the orders of King Francis I. The purpose of the building was to protect access to the port and to defend the coastline from sea-based attacks. In 1580, it became a state prison and its role won't change for 400 years. Over the centuries it gained a fearsome reputation as many opponents of royal power, especially Protestants and Republicans, were jailed and died in the fortress.

The most famous prisoner might be Edmond Dantès, the hero of Alexandre Dumas in The Count of Monte Cristo, who was incarcerated before ultimately escaping. The fans of the novel will be glad to visit the permanent exhibition: Alexander Dumas and the Count of Monte Cristo.

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Important to know

Know in advance:

  • the castle could be closed on some dates due to temporary events. Please check the castle closures on the official website
  • the monument is closed on Mondays from October 1st to March 30th
  • the monument is closed on 1st January, 1st May, 25th December
  • free admission for children under 18 years, EU citizens (18-25), disabled people and their companion, French unemployed people, Pass Education holders
  • free admission for all visitors on the first Sunday of each month from November to March and on the European Heritage Days (the third weekend of September)
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What’s included

Entrance to the Château d'If

Self-guided tours with guide booklet and historical comments in French, English, Italian and Spanish

Permanent exhibition Alexander Dumas and the Count of Monte Cristo

What’s not included

Guided tour

Ferry ticket

Cancellation policy

Please note that this experience is non-refundable, even if cancelled in advance.

Booking fee

Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.

Location

Boarding in Vieux Port (down of the Canebière) on 1 Quai de Rive Neuve, 13001 Marseille

Meeting point:

Present your voucher upon arrival at the Chateau d'If.

Provider

Monuments Nationaux

Need a hand?

Would you like some help making a booking? Or perhaps you just want to ask a few questions. Whatever the reason, don't hesitate to get in touch.

Opening hours: Our team is available from 10.00 to 18.00 CET

Phone number: +1 208-744-6464