Harbour

La Madrague de Giens

3.7Hyères les Palmiers, FranceVar

Maximum length: 29 ft
VHF channel: 9
Maximum draught: 2 ft

Shallow-draught harbour of 159 berths on the western side of the Giens peninsula, at Hyères, facing the Île de Porquerolles.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the W or SW across the Rade d'Hyères. Entrance between lit pier heads. Maximum draught 0.9 m only, restricted to small craft and shoal-draught boats, and the basin is shallow with sandbars and posidonia close to the pontoons, so the final approach after the channel needs care. Exposed to mistral gusts from the NW across the isthmus. VHF 9 for the harbour office.

Practical

159 berths, mostly for local small boats. Water and electricity on pontoons. Fees run higher than neighbouring harbours, at around 16.80 euros for a 5 m boat. The sanitary block is modest, showers are metered and can run cold, and it is locked overnight until staff arrive in the morning. No fuel station on site, nearest at Port du Niel 0.8 NM E or at Hyères marina. Grocery, bakery and restaurants in the village behind the port. Refuge at Port Auguier 1.8 NM SE.

Ashore

Almanarre and Badine beaches on the isthmus, long sand strips bordering the salt marshes of the Giens salins, a protected Natura 2000 site with flamingoes. Coastal path of the Giens peninsula starts at the port and runs 14 km around the headland. Ferry to Porquerolles from La Tour Fondue, 3 km by road.

History

The name Madrague comes from the Provençal madraga, a fixed tuna trap. A madrague operated here into the 20th century to catch bluefin tuna entering the bay during their spring migration.