Anchorage

Anse de l'Estaque

Shelter: N, NE, E, SE, S, NW
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed

Sand anchorage in the northern corner of the Rade de Marseille, off the old fishing village of L'Estaque.

Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the south across the Rade de Marseille. Holding on sand. Shelter from most quadrants except W and SW; the mistral funnels hard from the NW across the Gulf of Lion and the Rade, so the bay becomes untenable in strong mistral. L'Estaque harbour lies 0.2 NM to the N and Port Servaux 0.3 NM to the E.

Practical

No services at anchor. Fuel, water and chandlery at the marinas of L'Estaque and the Vieux-Port of Marseille, 4 NM to the SE.

Ashore

L'Estaque village at 0.2 NM was painted by Cézanne from 1870 and by Braque and Derain in 1906, works that contributed to the birth of cubism. Train station with direct line to Marseille Saint-Charles in 15 minutes.

History

L'Estaque was a tile and fishing village annexed to Marseille in 1855. It drew Paul Cézanne, Georges Braque, Raoul Dufy and André Derain between 1870 and 1910.

Key facts

Type: Anchorage
Coordinates: 43.35519, 5.31424 (43°21.31'N 5°18.85'E)
Country: France
Shelter: Sheltered from north, north-east, east, south-east, south, north-west winds
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed
Services: Beach
Boaters' rating: 3.1/5
Updated: July 7, 2026