If Castle
Chemin de Saint-Esteve, 13007 Marseille, France
Description:
If Castle is a fort on the island of If, located not far from the French city of Marseille, in the Mediterranean Sea.
Initially, the structure was built to defend Marseille from enemy attacks from the sea. Construction of the castle began in 1524, under the decree of King Francis I. Since the beginning of the XVII century, the castle was used as a prison for especially dangerous prisoners, enemies of France, Huguenots, politicians. In 1830 the castle officially ceased to be used as a prison. But in 1871, the Paris Communists were still held here, and their leader Gaston Cremier was shot on the grounds of the castle.
In 1845, the famous writer Alexandre Dumas wrote a novel about the castle and its prisoner, called the Count of Monte Cristo. At the present stage of its existence, the If Castle is one of the hallmarks of Marseille, and many tourists want to visit it. In the castle there are excursions, souvenirs are sold, and on the site there is a cafe overlooking Marseille.
