Anchorage

Îles du Frioul

Shelter: SE, S, SW
Seabed: sand, rock
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorages among the four limestone islands of the Frioul archipelago, 2.7 NM west of Marseille, within the Parc national des Calanques.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the E by the channel between Pomègues and Ratonneau, or from the N past the Île d'If. Bottom of sand and rock, holding variable; best on sand patches between the two islands in the Port du Frioul basin. Protection from SE, S and SW; exposed to the mistral from the NW. Marseille VTS on VHF 12.

Practical

Port du Frioul marina on the isthmus between Pomègues and Ratonneau offers water, electricity, fuel and 700 berths. Visitor pontoon inside the basin. Dinghy landing in most coves of Pomègues. Shuttle boats from Vieux-Port of Marseille run several times a day.

Ashore

Island paths connect the Hôpital Caroline, a 19th-century quarantine hospital on Ratonneau, the batteries of Pomègues and several calanques with small beaches. Château d'If on the neighbouring island, setting of Dumas' Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, is reached by the same shuttle line.

History

The archipelago served as a quarantine station for Marseille from the 17th century, then as a military stronghold through both world wars. It entered the Parc national des Calanques at its creation in 2012.