- Shelter
- S, SE
- Seabed
- sand, algae
- Anchoring
- Allowed
Small private island off Bandol, bought by Paul Ricard in 1950 and developed into a cultural site with a marina on its north side.
- Pontoon
- Beach
- Seagrass
Guide
Approach and anchoring
Approach from seaward and keep to seaward of the island: do not cut the narrow channel between it and the Bandol shore, where a submerged pipe and cable supplying the island lie in barely 1.7 metres and boats have stopped dead on them. The port and its moorings take up the north side, so anchor off the south face on sand and weed in 2 to 7 metres, exposed to southerlies. Day traffic is heavy, with a shuttle to Bandol about every 30 minutes and constant motorboat wake that eases at night.
Practical
Anchorage off the south shore with no services. Port of Bendor handles visitors on its north side. Bandol lies 0.3 nautical miles north-east across the channel with full provisioning.
Ashore
Paul Ricard had the island laid out with an exhibition building, the former Exposition universelle des vins et spiritueux, and artist studios. It has since been closed for a multi-year redevelopment, so landing to visit has not been possible and the works can be noisy by day. The shuttle to Bandol still runs, and there are small beaches on the east and north shores.
History
Uninhabited until 1950 when industrialist Paul Ricard bought it and turned it into a leisure and cultural estate. The island hosted the first French diving federation centre set up with Jacques-Yves Cousteau.
Key facts
- Type
- Anchorage
- Coordinates
- 43.12964, 5.74892 (43°7.78'N 5°44.93'E)
- Country
- France
- Shelter
- Sheltered from south, south-east winds
- Seabed
- sand, algae
- Anchoring
- Allowed
- Services
- Pontoon, Beach, Seagrass
- Boaters' rating
- 4.2/5
- Updated
- October 15, 2026
Getting there
Île de Bendor lies at 43°7.78'N 5°44.93'E, that is 43.12964, 5.74892 in decimal degrees.
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Write a reviewFrequently asked questions
Which winds is Île de Bendor sheltered from?
Île de Bendor is sheltered from south, south-east winds.
Can you anchor at Île de Bendor?
Yes, anchoring is allowed at Île de Bendor.
How do boaters rate Île de Bendor?
Île de Bendor is rated 4.2/5 by boaters on BoatMap.
Explore the region
- France
- Provence and Côte d'Azur
- Var
- Camargue and Gulf of Fos
- Marseille and the Calanques
- Riviera · Alpes-Maritimes
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