Anchorage

Port Miou

3.5FranceMarseille and the Calanques

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Shelter: NW, N, NE, W, SW
Seabed: sand, rock
Anchoring: Forbidden

Buoy field in the Calanque de Port-Miou, the first calanque west of Cassis, inside the Parc national des Calanques.

Water
Mooring buoys
Visitor buoys
Pontoon

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Enter the calanque on a heading of around 340 degrees, between vertical limestone cliffs. Deep water along the axis, no marked dangers within the calanque once inside the entrance. Anchoring on ground tackle is prohibited; moor bow to a managed ASPM buoy with a stern line run to rings on the rock, so carry about 50 metres of line, and the bosun helps set the hawser. An easterly or south-easterly sends swell in that bounces off the rock walls, though the calanque is sheltered from the wind itself. VHF 9. Closed to motoring in part of the calanque, speed limited to 5 knots.

Practical

Around 30 visitor buoys managed by the Association Syndicale du Port de Port-Miou, around 34 euros for a 12 metre boat. Water point, toilets and a shared freezer on the quay. Night stay allowed subject to availability, but boats much over 12 metres and catamarans are often turned away, as the buoys and lockers do not suit them; part of the pontoon and some buoys can be out of service, and the site may close for winter. No fuel, no electricity on the buoys. Cassis town 1 nm northeast for shops and restaurants.

Ashore

Trailhead of the GR 98-51 into the Calanques runs from the end of Port-Miou towards the calanques of Port-Pin 1 km and En-Vau 2.5 km. Cassis is 2.5 km on foot, also reached by shuttle bus or the little tourist train. Former Solvay limestone quarry, closed in 1981, visible on the west bank. Access from Cassis by foot along the marked path from avenue des Calanques.

History

Port-Miou was worked as a limestone quarry from 1900 to 1981 to supply the Solvay soda works at Salin-de-Giraud. The old loading jetty and inclined plane are still visible on the west bank.

Key facts

Type: Anchorage
Coordinates: 43.20566, 5.51555 (43°12.34'N 5°30.93'E)
Country: France
Shelter: Sheltered from north-west, north, north-east, west, south-west winds
Seabed: sand, rock
Anchoring: Forbidden
Maximum length: 65 ft
Fees: Paid
VHF channel: 9
Phone: +33442019624
Services: Water, Mooring buoys, Visitor buoys, Pontoon
Boaters' rating: 3.5/5
Updated: October 15, 2026