Harbour

Villefranche - Darse

4.2Villefranche-sur-Mer, FranceRiviera · Alpes-Maritimes

Maximum length: 98 ft
VHF channel: 9
Maximum draught: 13 ft

Former Sardinian military harbour in the Rade de Villefranche-sur-Mer, between Nice and Cap Ferrat.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the east across the rade, one of the deepest natural harbours on the Mediterranean coast with over 40 m of water close in. Entrance through a narrow stone cut between the old ramparts. The basin is small and berthing is stern-to under bosun guidance, which needs care in strong wind. Shelter from all quadrants once inside. VHF 9.

Practical

523 berths, max draught 4 m. Fuel berth with diesel. Water and electricity on pontoons, with shore power free under 16 amps. Capitainerie at the head of the basin; no launderette on site. Haul-out facilities on the north quay. Book through the port website or the Magellan e-resa system. Restaurants line the old-town waterfront 400 m away, but food shopping nearby is limited and pricey and means a climb, so many use the fuller Super U in neighbouring Beaulieu-sur-Mer; bikes can be borrowed for the trip.

Ashore

Rue Obscure, a vaulted medieval street from the 13th century, runs parallel to the quay. Chapelle Saint-Pierre on the fishermen quay decorated by Jean Cocteau in 1957. A diving centre sits next to the harbour and a jazz club by the quay. Sentier du littoral to Cap Ferrat, 6 km to the lighthouse. Train station 500 m for the Nice to Menton line.

History

Built from 1731 by the Dukes of Savoy as a fortified military port, the Darse sheltered galleys and later the Sardinian royal navy until 1860 when Nice was annexed to France. The careening basin on the north side still shows its original stone slipways.