Port

Port d’Envaux

Name: Port d’Envaux
Address: Taillebourg, FR

4.4Taillebourg, FranceCharente-Maritime

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Type: Harbour

River port on the Charente at Saint-Saturnin-de-Séchaud, between Taillebourg and Saintes in New Aquitaine.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Access via the Charente from Rochefort. The river is tidal up to the lock at Saint-Savinien, located 2 km downstream of Port d'Envaux. Upstream of the lock the water level is regulated. Max draught 1,5 metres. Speed limit 8 km/h. The river meanders through the plain of Saintonge with several tight bends.

Practical

Pontoon berths managed by the commune. Water on the pontoon. No fuel on site, nearest fuel at Rochefort. Bakery and small grocery within 400 metres in the village. Restaurants along the quay in season.

Ashore

Les Lapidiales open-air sculpture site at the old Crazannes quarries, 1,5 km from the port, where sculptors from around 40 countries have carved the limestone walls since 2001. Château de Crazannes, a 15th century Gothic manor, at 2,5 km. GR 360 hiking trail along the Charente passes through the village.

History

The Crazannes limestone, quarried from the Roman period onwards, was shipped from Envaux down the Charente to build Rochefort arsenal in the 17th century and later the forts of Île d'Aix. The ashlar also travelled to La Rochelle and, by sea, to Quebec City.

Story

The stone of the Crazannes quarries was used in 1666 on the order of Colbert to build the Corderie Royale at Rochefort, the longest industrial building of its time at 374 metres.