ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Château d'If

Château d'If is like a really old and fancy castle that's located in France. It's on an island called the Ile d'If, which is in the Mediterranean Sea near the city of Marseille.

A long time ago, around 400 years ago, the castle was built to protect Marseille from invaders who might try to attack the city by sea. It was a really strong and sturdy castle that had thick walls, towers, and a big gate to keep the bad guys out.

But then something bad happened. A king named Louis XIV wasn't really happy with all the people who didn't believe in the same God as he did, so he decided to punish them. He ordered his soldiers to take these people and put them in the castle, which was now being used as a prison.

So the castle became a really sad place where people were kept prisoner for a very long time. Some prisoners who were kept there included political leaders, priests, and other people who didn't agree with the king.

After a while, the prison closed down and the castle became popular again - not for prisoners, but for visitors like you and me who want to see the amazing castle and learn about all the history that happened there.

So that's what Château d'If is - a really old and strong castle that was used as a prison a long time ago, and now is a popular place for visitors to see and learn about history.
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