Lérins, Iles de

Group of four small islands in the Mediterranean, 4 km/2 mi south of Cannes, in the French département of Alpes-Maritimes. Alexandre Dumas's story ‘The Man in the Iron Mask’, from his book Le Vicomte de Bragelonne 1848–50, was set on the island of St-Marguerite. Marshal Bazaine was also confined there. St-Honorat has a 5th-century monastery.