Harbour

Port de Cerbère

Maximum length: 39 ft
VHF channel: 9
Maximum draught: 26 ft

Marina of 190 berths on the Côte Vermeille in Occitanie, the last French port before the Spanish border at Cap Cerbère.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from seaward between Cap Peyrefite to the north and Cap Cerbere to the south. Entrance lies on the east side of the bay, marked by red and green lights at the jetty heads. Tramontane funnels down from the Pyrenees and raises short steep seas off the coast. Max draught 8 m at the entrance. Anchoring in the bay from the breakwater to the beach is prohibited in season, with red buoys laid for passing boats out of season; the coves just south towards Cap Cerbere shelter a southerly. An easterly swell makes the port uncomfortable.

Practical

A small seasonal marina run by a volunteer association, open roughly from May to mid-September; book ahead as berths are few and boats over 12 m are not normally taken. Rates are low, around 14 euros mid-season. Water and electricity on the pontoons; the sanitary block is old but kept clean. A mini-market, bakery and restaurants stand by the harbour, and the rail station on the Perpignan to Portbou line sits above it, useful for crew changes. VHF 9.

Ashore

Coastal path GR 92 climbs to the border at Cap Cerbère in 1.5 km. Beach of Cerbère fronts the village at 150 m. Banyuls-sur-Mer lies 2.8 NM NW and Port-Vendres 5.3 NM NW for alternative refuges.

History

Cerbère grew as a rail border station after the Perpignan to Portbou line opened in 1878. The Hôtel Belvédère du Rayon Vert, built in 1932 above the port in reinforced concrete, is listed as a monument historique.