Île Saint-Honorat, Îles de Lérins
Just 15 minutes by ferry from the Vieux-Port, the smaller of the two Lérins Islands is home to a community of Cistercian monks who have farmed, prayed and made wine here without interruption since the 5th century. No cars, no hotels, no crowds — just pine forests, Roman ruins, crystalline water and some of the most remarkable wine you can drink in the south of France.
The Monastery, the Vineyards & the Wine
The Abbaye de Lérins dominates the island's southern tip with its 11th-century fortified tower rising directly from the sea — one of the most dramatic monastic buildings in Europe. The monks welcome visitors to their shop where they sell the island's own Chardonnay, Syrah and a celebrated honey liqueur called Lérina.
The vineyards cover about 8 hectares of sandy soil between the pine groves; the monks tend them organically and harvest by hand each September. A bottle of their white Chardonnay, drunk on the ferry back to Cannes with a slice of local cheese, is one of the great simple pleasures of the Riviera.
Swimming, Walking & the Fortified Tower
A well-marked footpath circles the entire island in about 90 minutes, passing Roman-era ruins, a 5th-century chapel (Saint-Sauveur), and a series of rocky coves with water so clear you can see the sandy bottom at 4 metres depth. The cove on the island's northwest side, sheltered from the mistral, is the best swimming spot.
The fortified medieval tower (La Tour de l'Île) can be visited independently — climb to the roof for a 360-degree view that takes in Cannes, the Estérel, Cap d'Antibes and on clear days the first Alps. Arrive on the first ferry (around 9 am) to have the island largely to yourself before the midday boats arrive.
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