Ile Saint-Honorat, French Riviera

Ile Saint-Honorat is a small island of the coast of Cannes, on the French Riviera. It is the smallest of the two Lerins Islands, but still only 1.5km in length and 400 metres wide.

For over 1,500 years it has neen home to a community of monks, which to this day have a monastery there. Thirty Cistercian monks reside on the island, which over the centuries has been attacked by Saracens. The ancient buildings can be visited, beautiful views and monastic gifts, such as honey and wine are for sale. The beaches are quiet and perfect for swimming and sunbathing.

There is no cars on the island, and visitor numbers are limited by the fact there is just 10 small ferries a day to the island.

The photo shows the fortified monastery that was built to defend the monks from muslim raiders in the 12th century.

It is possible to attend mass at the chapel and the monastery also has basic monastic accommodation in beautiful surroundings that can be booked in advance for a stay of between 2 and 7 days.

Full details about the monastery can be found on their website. If you do not speak French, click the two arrows that should be in the far right of the address bar. Click and a box should appear asking if you would like Google to translate. Click yes and all the text should change to English.

www.abbayedelerins.com

Image credit: Alberto Fernandez Fernandez