THE FRIOUL ARCHIPELAGO

At the heart of the Bay of Marseille, in the face of the city, the Frioul archipelago, with the island of Pomègues Ratonneau, Tiboulen and If, is a haven of peace still wild and preserved with the Mistral or the East wind sheltered coves that attract OM and vacationers "for a good time". The lucky ones go spend the day on the boat, others take the Friuli If Express shuttles.

THE FRIULI IS COMPOSED OF TWO ISLANDS, RATONNEAU AND POMÈGUES CONNECTED BY A DAM FORMING A PORT

Ratonneau is the busiest island. You will discover the Brigantine tip, the Creek of Morgeret, Ratonneau fort that overlooks the beautiful cove of Saint-Estève, the port of the Eoube and the former Caroline hospital which today hosts many cultural events.

Theatre of exceptional flora, the islands of Frioul and wildlife are an ideal destination for water lovers of nature, history, unusual walks, bathing, and activity.

Pomègues itself remains wild and authentic with the Creek of the Crine and port of Pomègues tower that offers a splendid panorama.

The Port of Friuli : the islands of Pomègues and Ratonneau were connected by 1822 by a large dam, in fact allowing the creation of the Frioul port. The port now has a capacity of about 1500 seats + many places for boats to pass. There are a few bar-restaurants on the wharves, homes and many boats as huts.

THE CHATEAU D'IF

Built by François 1st from 1524, the fortress on the island of yew becomes during 400 years a prison where were locked up hard heads, bandits, protestants and sick, banished from the city.
The old Royal fortification of the archipelago, the castle of If is immortalized by the legendary count of Monte Cristo, hero of the novel by Alexandre Dumas.
The coastal path offers views of Marseille and its extraordinary Bay.
The chateau d'if is today open to the public by the Centre for National Monuments.
Access to the island is paying, tickets are on sale at the arrival on If.

A BIT OF HISTORY...

Linked to that of Marseille, the history of the islands of Frioul begins truly to the arrival of the Greek sailors who, in the 6th century BC. BC, founded Massalia. In 49 BC, Jules Caesar fleet dropped anchor off the coast of the Islands and besieged the city for a few days.

During the centuries that followed, the archipelago regularly served as a stopover.

During all of the sixteenth century, the islands of Friuli were ringside during the attacks of French and foreign, especially Spanish and Italian fleets. In 1597, the Florentines managed to capture of Pomègues and built a defensive Tower. Outpost of Marseille, the archipelago is even more fortified.

For two centuries, this archipelago played a very important health role. Indeed, multiple trade exposed Marseille to the plague and cholera.

It's in the islands of Frioul, and particularly in the natural port of Pomègues, which were quarantined contaminated ships and their cargo. In the nineteenth century, a dam was built between Ratonneau and Pomègues, linking the port of Pomègues and the new hospital, North of Ratonneau. The Carolina hospital offered an architectural design and health ahead of his time. The hospital was closed in 1948.

During the second world war, the Germans, installed in the old forts, suffered the bombing of American aviation.

In 1970, the Navy gave the archipelago to the city of Marseille, who built on Ratonneau village and private homes.