Anchorage

St Goustan

Shelter: NW, N, NE, W, E, SW, S, SE
Seabed: mud
Anchoring: Forbidden

Visitor moorings on the river Auray at the foot of the old Saint-Goustan quarter, mud bottom, fully sheltered from all winds.

Mooring buoys

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Enter the Auray river from the Gulf of Morbihan and follow the buoyed channel upstream past Le Bono. The river winds for roughly 3 nm with strong tidal streams. Reach the moorings on a rising tide to allow for the drying upper reaches. Moor to the buoys off the quai Martin. Le Bono lies 1.4 nm to the south-east.

Practical

Mooring buoys managed by the port of Auray. Capitainerie on the quay. Water and electricity on the quayside pontoons. Fuel at Le Bono. All shops, bakeries and restaurants on the cobbled square of Saint-Goustan and along rue du Petit-Port.

Ashore

Saint-Goustan is the old river port of Auray with 15th century timber framed houses around the Saint-Sauveur square and the old stone bridge of 1295 rebuilt in 1752. Chemin de halage along the Auray river for walkers. Town of Auray on the high bank, 10 minutes on foot up the stepped rue du Château.

History

Benjamin Franklin landed at Saint-Goustan on 4 December 1776 after a stormy Atlantic crossing, on his way to negotiate the French alliance with the American colonies. A plaque on the quay marks the event.

Key facts

Type: Anchorage
Coordinates: 47.65702, -2.97706 (47°39.42'N 2°58.62'W)
Country: France
Shelter: Sheltered from north-west, north, north-east, west, east, south-west, south, south-east winds
Seabed: mud
Anchoring: Forbidden
Services: Mooring buoys
Boaters' rating: 4.2/5
Updated: July 7, 2026