It would seem that the tradition of winemaking has played an important part in the way of life of the community over so many centuries quite simply to provide the wine for celebrating mass.

Between 400 AD and 410 AD
Honorat, Caprais and their companions arrive on the island and found a monastic community that quickly grew to become an important regional force in Roman Provence.

From the 7th Century onwards:
The monks adopt the rule of St Benedict

8th – 9th Century
This was a period of intense political turmoil, with many destructive raids which were later attributed to the Saracens. We know the history of this period only from documents written at a later date.

About 980 AD
The “liberation” of Provence

978-1020
Lérins reappears as a Clunisian monastery (St Mayeul and St Odilon, abbots of Cluny and of Lérins). From the 11th century onwards there are numerous charters of settlement. In a single century over one hundred priories are established in Provence and beyond. Instability continues, due to the Saracens and then the Genoese.

About 1047
The island is invaded once again, the young monks are captured and taken to Spain. They are later brought back by St Yzarn, abbot of St Victor of Marseilles.

1327
A signal system using fires is set up, to enable communication between the tower of the fortified monastery on the island and the one in the “Suquet” area of Cannes.

About 1391
The relics of St Honorat are brought back from Arles.

1400
The island is pillaged by Genoese pirates. From then on, the building was defended day and night by servants, then by Provencal soldiers (1437), then by the French military (1481), who took up permanent residence in the upper floors of the fortified monastery.

1464
The commencement of the period in which the abbey is held in commendam (provisionally by an external party). Augustin Grimaldi, third commendatory abbot, reformed the abbey by reuniting it with the congregation of Mont Cassin. Arrival of the first monks on May 3, 1516.

16th century
The first description of the fortified monastery by Barralis: 90 rooms (30 cells, 1 church, 3 chapels) for 15-30 monks (a number fixed by a decree of the monastic chapter).

1635-1637
The islands are taken by the Spanish and occupied for two years. They fortify the whole of Saint Honorat by putting of cannons on the chapels. After the islands were retaken, a large garrison was permanently stationed there.

Starting in 1636, The in commendam system was established permanently and this caused the rapid decline of the abbey which was closed by a royal commission in 1788. There were no more than four monks remaining at this stage. The monastery’s estates were incorporated into the diocese of Grasse.

1791
The islands were declared national property. Saint Honorat was bought by diverse owners, including the actress Blanche Sainval who transformed the fortified monastery into reception rooms.

1859
The island was purchased by the bishop of Fréjus, Mgr Jordany.

1869
Arrival of the first Cistercian monks on the island from Sénanque (near Avignon). The present-day community originates from these monks.