Lerins Abbey (Abbaye de Lerins)

The smaller of the two main islands that make up the îles de Lérins, Saint Honorat has been a monastic retreat since the 5th century, and its peaceful and unspoiled character makes an attractive contrast with the busy, cosmopolitan atmosphere of the French Riviera mainland.

A short distance across the water from Cannes, the island is just 1.5km long and 400m wide and is home to 21 Cistercian monks. The abbey, which dates back to the 11th century, is open to visitors, who are invited to explore the calm medieval cloisters, chapels, and pretty gardens.

The abbey has its own vineyard, and the monks make wine and liqueurs which are sold in the abbey shop, while there is also a restaurant, La Tonnelle, where you can enjoy a light lunch with a fine view of the Mediterranean Sea - a perfect spot to relax on shore during your luxury yacht charter through the South of France.

The abbey, which dates back to the 11th century, is open to visitors, who are invited to explore the calm medieval cloisters, chapels, and pretty gardens

Saint Honorat is easy to explore on foot, and besides the main abbey, there are several interesting historical buildings worth a look at, including the ruins of the 12th-century fortified monastery on the seafront and a number of small medieval chapels dotted around the island.

More unusual are the two cannonball furnaces, built-in 1794 on the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte, now listed as historic monuments.

Lying just a short distance off the mainland in the Bay of Cannes, the island of Saint Honorat and the Abbaye de Lérins make for an ideal tranquil stopover during your adventure through the Cote d'Azur. 

If you're interested in visiting Lerins Abbey and would like to incorporate a trip into your charter itinerary, please speak with your prefered yacht charter broker. 

Alternatively, view the entire fleet of superyachts available for French Riviera yacht charters.