Harbour

Menton Vieux-Port

4.7Menton, FranceRiviera · Alpes-Maritimes

Maximum length: 98 ft
VHF channel: 9
Maximum draught: 16 ft

Marina of 590 berths on the Franco-Italian border, at the eastern end of the French Riviera.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the south, keeping clear of the rocks off Cap Martin to the west. Entrance between two moles with red and green lights. Visitor berths often lie at buoys off the harbour office ahead of the entrance, bow to a buoy, so carry a 20 metre warp and ask the staff to haul the buoys apart before entering, as they sit close. Swell from the east sets up an uncomfortable surge at these berths, and in strong easterlies the team help double up the lines. VHF 9 for the harbour office. Max draught 5 m.

Practical

590 berths with water and electricity on pontoons. Harbour office open year round. Free washing machines, and clean shower blocks that are dated and can be a long walk from the buoy berths. WiFi is advertised but often does not work. Town centre, shops and restaurants along Quai Bonaparte within 200 m. Refuge at Menton Garavan 0.5 NM to the NE, Cap d'Ail 5.2 NM to the SW.

Ashore

Old town of Menton rising above the harbour with the parvis Saint-Michel and the basilica Saint-Michel-Archange at 300 m. Jean Cocteau museum on the seafront at 400 m. Italian border and Ventimiglia market at roughly 8 km by road to the east.

History

Menton was part of the Principality of Monaco until 1848, then an independent free town, before joining France by popular vote in 1861. The harbour sits below the old town built by the Grimaldi lords from the 13th century onwards.