Step inside a literary classic when you visit the island fortress prison Château d’If, which was the inspiration for Alexandre Dumas’ 1844 novel The Count of Monte Cristo. Learn about the prisoners incarcerated here and get amazing views of the Vieux Port! Francis I of France mainly utilized the Château d’If to protect the Marseilles coast from invasion. Protestants and Republicans, plus anyone opposing official authority was imprisoned at Château d’If from 1580 until 1871. But the most famous prisoner here was undoubtedly Edmond Dantès, the protagonist of Dumas' novel The Count of Monte Cristo. Unlike him, your stay at Chateau d'If won't be 14 years of unjust imprisonment. Instead, it will be a fascinating and picturesque single day. Travel over by boat and soak up the amazing views of the Vieux Port. Bypass the long line to the fortress and head inside to learn about the various political prisoners who were incarcerated here long ago, such as Mirabeau and the Communards of 1871 - proper revolutionary heroes.