Harbour

Port de Castets-et-Castillon

Name: Port de Castets-et-Castillon
Address: Castets et Castillon, FR
Telephone: +3306 77 89 66 34

Castets et Castillon, France

Type: Harbour

River port on the Garonne at the junction with the Canal de Garonne, in the commune of Castets et Castillon in the Gironde.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Reached from the Garonne through the double lock of Castets, which connects the tidal river to the canal pound. The lock is operated by VNF and opening hours follow the canal schedule, typically 0900 to 1900 in season. Tidal current on the Garonne runs up to 4 knots on the flood, so approach is planned on the tail of the flood to arrive at slack water.

Practical

Pontoon moorings along the canal bank with water and electricity bollards. No diesel pump on site, the nearest fuel is at Meilhan-sur-Garonne about 20 km upstream on the canal. Small grocery and bakery in Castets-en-Dorthe within 500 m. Bordeaux is 50 km downstream by road.

Ashore

The Canal des Deux Mers cycle route runs along the towpath and reaches La Réole in 12 km. Château de Castets, a private listed building from the fourteenth century, stands above the village. Vineyards of the Entre-Deux-Mers appellation start within 2 km on the north bank of the Garonne.

History

The lock at Castets was opened in 1856 as the western terminus of the Canal latéral à la Garonne, allowing barges to avoid the tidal estuary. It marks the downstream end of the 193 km Canal de Garonne, which continues the Canal du Midi towards the Atlantic.