Le Château d'If

Made famous by Dumas' novel, The Count of Monte Cristo, le Château d'If was built from 1516 to 1529 on a small island just off Marseille and has seen more use as a prison than as a fortress. In 1701 Vauban visited and had a small guard house built next to the castle. He described the fortifications as being poorly made and having many imperfections.