Harbour

Le Port des Pêcheurs

Name: Le Port des Pêcheurs
Address: FR

Type: Harbour

Small fishing harbour tucked under the cliffs of Biarritz, between the Grande Plage and the Rocher de la Vierge, on the Basque coast.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the W along the Biarritz shoreline. The entrance is narrow and exposed to Atlantic swell, unsafe in strong W or NW weather. Anglet marinas lie 3.4 to 3.6 NM to the E and NE and serve as the main refuges on this coast.

Practical

Afloat basin used mainly by local fishing boats and a few visitors. Limited yacht facilities, no dedicated visitor pontoon. Town centre of Biarritz immediately above the port with all shops, restaurants and the rail link to Bayonne.

History

The port was carved into the rock in the 19th century when Empress Eugénie turned Biarritz into an imperial resort. The small stone huts above the quay, called crampottes, were built by fishermen to store gear.