Anchorage

Anse de Bonnieu

3.0FranceMarseille and the Calanques

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Shelter: NE, E, SE, S, SW
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed

Small cove on the Côte Bleue west of Martigues, between Port des Laurons and Carro, Bouches-du-Rhône.

Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Coastal approach along the Cote Bleue. Low rocky shore with a sand bottom that shoals quickly, so deeper draughts cannot reach the sheltered inner part; in summer two rows of swim buoys hold boats about 500 m off, leaving room for only a few. The cove opens north and the mistral blows straight in, so it serves in settled weather or a land breeze, with good shelter from NE through SE to SW. Fishermen set nets across the entrance at night, marked with flags. Watch the rocky ground on the west side.

Practical

Forain anchorage with no services. Port des Laurons 0.4 nm north is the closest shelter if the mistral picks up. Carro lies 1.3 nm SE and has a fishing harbour with limited visitor berths.

Ashore

The Ponteau power station and Lavera petrochemical works stand just to the NW, an industrial backdrop lit up at night. A pizzeria sits on the beach, to be called ahead. Sentier des Douaniers follows the Cote Bleue east to the calanques de Sausset and west to Carro, with its fish market on the quay, 1.3 nm by sea or 2 km on foot.

Key facts

Type: Anchorage
Coordinates: 43.34677, 5.02275 (43°20.81'N 5°1.36'E)
Country: France
Shelter: Sheltered from north-east, east, south-east, south, south-west winds
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed
Services: Beach
Boaters' rating: 3.0/5
Updated: October 15, 2026