Pretty European islands locals don’t know about with huge castle, sheltered beach and Greek-like temple
EUROPE is home to hundreds of stunning little islands that you may not have heard of – but are great for avoiding the crowds.
One of those places is the Frioul Islands, which some locals don’t even know about.
Earlier this week, travel expert Sam Sears documented her trip to Marseille, writing: “One enticing aspect of Marseille goes overlooked by most tourists. I even asked a local how to visit the [Frioul] islands and his response was, ‘huh?’.
“Not a translation issue. Like me, he just didn’t know about them”.
The Frioul Islands is an archipelago consisting of four islands, Pomègue, Ratonneau, Tiboulen and If.
Located in the Calanques National Park, the Frioul Islands are part of a European network of protected areas called Natura 2,000.
Its landscapes are one of its main features, with small sandy beaches, beautiful creeks and sea birds.
The islands are home to roughly 150 residents and have belonged to the city of Marseille since 1971.
Pomègue has a rugged landscape with breathtaking views because of this walking trails are a popular activity on the island.
One walking trail stretches from Berry Seawall to the Cavaux military fortification and takes 45 minutes to complete.
The best time to visit the island is between April and June, when the sun and the heat aren’t too unbearable.
Meanwhile, Ratonneau Island can be explored on foot, with a land train running during the summer months.
Only 100 residents live on Ratonneau, with small shops, bars and restaurants becoming a hive of activity in the peak season.
Other attractions include Caroline Hospital, a building that resembles an ancient Greek temple.
The structure was built at the start of the 19th century to treat yellow fever patients.
Ratonneau is also home to the only holiday resort in the archipelago.
The Léo Lagrange holiday resort is open between March and November.
Saint Estève Beach is a 30-minute walk from the pier, and it’s the only real beach on the Frioul Islands.
Home to turquoise waters, the beach is sheltered from the strong winds and is equipped with showers, toilets and a small cafe.
Meanwhile, If Island is home to just a 16th-century fortress that was built by King Francis the 1st in 1516.
The fortress was transformed into a prison because its location made it difficult for prisoners to escape.
Château d’If stopped being a prison in 1890 after the complex opened to the public.
The former prison remains open to holidaymakers and costs €7 (£5.85) to enter, with under-18s going free.
Tiboulen Island is the final island that forms the archipelago.
The island is uninhabited and has been nicknamed Turtle Island by locals.
Daily ferries operate from Marseille to the islands.
Everything you need to know about visiting France
- Brits need to have a passport with at least three months left on it.
- No visas are needed for anyone staying up to 90 days within an 180-day period but you need to make sure your passport is stamped on entry and exit.
- You may also need to show proof of accommodation and funds, around €120 a day.
- The country uses the euro with with around €10 working out to £8.55.
- France is one hour ahead of the UK
- Direct flights to France from the UK take between 1-4 hours depending on the destination
- Or you can travel by train with Eurostar, with destinations including Paris or Lille.
- Direct ferry services also operate between the UK and France, with some journeys taking 90 minutes.
Meanwhile, these are six secret holiday spots in Europe.
And this French holiday spot has been described as “unfairly overlooked”.