Excavations have revealed houses, wall paintings, mosaics and ceramics from the 3rd century BC. It is said to be named after the sister of Honorat d'Arles, Saint Honorat, who in the 5th century led a community of nuns. In 1687, its fort welcomed one of the most famous French prisoners, the man in the iron mask. An unknown man who died in 1703 in the Bastille after a long captivity, he became a symbol of monarchical absolutism under the pen of Voltaire: whether he was a total invention or a reality, we will never know... In the 19th century, the island was used as a place of detention for political and common law prisoners from Algeria. A coveted object, a commercial Mediterranean crossroads, a strategic military point and now a place of relaxation, Sainte Marguerite Island has been a place of inspiration for artists. A jewel in the bay of Cannes, it has been the subject of numerous representations: paintings, prints and photographs from the museum's collection will help you discover them. This exhibition is accessible with the Cannes Culture Pass 2021.