Château d"If, off the coast of Marseille, France, was built beginning in 1524 as a fortress by King Francis I. The tiny islet in the Mediterranean Sea was chosen as the site for the fortress because of its steep cliffs and strategic location near the busy port of Marseille. While the "château" never gained fame defending the ancient port (since it was never attacked), it did become notorious as a prison. Surrounded by treacherous currents—like Alcatraz in San Francisco—starting in the late 16th century it was a dumping ground for political and religious prisoners. As far as official records go, none of the prisoners condemned there ever escaped.
A prison fit for a count
Today in History
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Seventeen arches at sunset
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Ruins of a royal temple
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Mount Hamilton, near San Jose, California
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3,000 years of history
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A gentle wind fills this sail
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The owl that loved football
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Nakupenda Beach Nature Reserve, Zanzibar, Tanzania
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Gujō Hachiman Castle, Gifu prefecture, Japan
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Happy Mother’s Day
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An historic forest
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West Cornwall Covered Bridge, Connecticut
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World Space Week begins
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World Lizard Day
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Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park shines
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Banggai cardinalfish with sea anemone
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Looking down on the Otter
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Thousand Islands region, St. Lawrence River, US-Canada border
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Unearthing a queen s lost tale
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Ancient groves in Australia
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The moth wonderful time of the year
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Old Town in Prague, Czech Republic
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All Rhodes lead to the beach
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Haghartsin Monastery, Armenia
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Happy Thanksgiving
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Celebrating Madagascar on its Independence Day
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Hanging out on a limb
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The Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic
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Anniversary of Pinnacles National Park, California
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Birthplace of Roman emperors
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International Surfing Day