Harbour

Solenzara

4.3Solenzara, FranceCorsica

Maximum length: 98 ft
VHF channel: 9
Maximum draught: 8 ft

Harbour of 450 berths on the east coast of Corsica, at the mouth of the Solenzara river, roughly midway between Bastia and Porto-Vecchio.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the east, entrance between two jetties marked by red and green lights. A shifting sandbar can show around 2.1 metres between the starboard breakwater mark and the west marina wall, so favour the west side, and there is only 2.4 to 2.6 metres alongside the low fuel quay. Maximum draught 2.5 m at the pontoons. Shelter good from W through N, exposed to E and SE swell which can build at the entrance in libeccio backing. A dinghy comes out to guide arrivals to the berth. VHF 9 for the harbour office.

Practical

450 berths, around 80 reserved for visitors. Fuel berth with diesel and petrol, open 8 am to 8 pm in season and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings out of season. Water and electricity on all pontoons. Showers, laundry, chandlery and a travel lift up to 45 tonnes. Book through magelaneresa.com; the office closes at weekends and over the midday break out of season. Around 50 euros a night for a 12 m monohull, with catamarans charged a double coefficient. Super U 1 km away, with shops, bakeries and restaurants along the quay and in the village behind the port.

Ashore

The harbourside restaurants Papou, open out of season, and L'Annexe sit by the port, and car hire can be arranged through the office for the day trip inland. The Solenzara river gorges and natural pools of the Purcaraccia stream lie 15 km inland along the D268 road toward the Bavella pass. The Aiguilles de Bavella, granite peaks rising above 1600 m, are a classic hiking destination 30 km west of the port.

History

The village developed from the 19th century around the river crossing on the eastern coastal road. A French Air Force base, Base aerienne 126, was established 2 km north of the port in 1939 and remains active.