Harbour

Saint Valery sur Somme

4.7Saint Valery sur Somme, France

Maximum length: 20 m
VHF channel: 9
Maximum draught: 2.3 m

Tidal marina of 250 berths in the Somme estuary, Hauts-de-France, on the south bank of the baie de Somme.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Entrance via a buoyed channel across the estuary sandbanks, shifting with each spring tide. Access limited to roughly HW +/- 2h. Follow the latest SHOM updates and local pilotage notices. Max draught 2.3 m at high water. Call on VHF 9 before entering.

Practical

250 berths with pontoons. Water, electricity, toilets and showers at the capitainerie. Bakery, butcher and small supermarket within 300 m in the medieval upper town. Railway halt of the Chemin de fer de la baie de Somme nearby.

Ashore

Walled medieval town above the port with the Porte de Nevers and Porte Guillaume gates. Baie de Somme nature reserve, a Grand Site de France, with common seal colonies visible at low water. Coastal path along the digue towards Le Hourdel, 6 km to the west.

History

William the Conqueror assembled his fleet at Saint-Valery in 1066 before sailing to England. Joan of Arc was held prisoner in the town in December 1430 on her way to her trial at Rouen.