Although a prison for centuries, from 1959, it was a maximum-security facility for political prisoners. Over 3,000 of them were held here between 1961 and 1991, including Nelson Mandela. The last prisoners left Robben Island in 1996, and in that year, it became a museum and a national monument of South Africa. Tours cost R230 for adults and R120 for children. They take about three hours and include the return boat trip to the island, plus a visit to the prison and a chance to talk to a former prisoner.
Two adjacent cells are named after Edmond Dantes and Abbe Faria, the main characters in the book. Dantes escaped from the island in the story, though nobody is believed to have done this in reality. Ferries go to the island from Marseille, and an individual return ticket will cost €5. The entrance to the Chateau is €5.50, though there are concession prices and family tickets.
