Harbour

Villefranche - Santé

Maximum length: 30 m
VHF channel: 9
Maximum draught: 3 m

Small harbour tucked in the south-west corner of the Rade de Villefranche, between the old town and the Cap-Ferrat peninsula, on the Côte d'Azur.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Enter the Rade de Villefranche between Cap de Nice and Pointe Saint-Hospice. The Rade has depths over 40 m. The Santé harbour entrance lies east of the old town quay, head of pier marked by a green light. Well sheltered except in strong E to SE winds. VHF 9.

Practical

50 berths stern-to on pendilles, most reserved for local boats, a few visitor berths for yachts up to 25 m with 3 m draught. Water and electricity on the pontoons. No fuel pump, diesel at Port de Nice, 2 NM to the west. Showers at the harbour office.

Ashore

The citadelle Saint-Elme, a 16th century fortress built by the Duke of Savoy, overlooks the harbour 100 m from the pontoons and houses three municipal museums. The baroque chapelle Saint-Pierre, decorated by Jean Cocteau in 1957, stands on the fishermen's quay 300 m to the west. Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is 2 km along the Cap-Ferrat road.

History

The Rade served as a Mediterranean base for the Savoyard navy from the 16th century and later for the French and Russian fleets. The citadelle was built from 1557 by Duke Emmanuel-Philibert of Savoy to guard the anchorage.

Story

Jean Cocteau painted the interior of the chapelle Saint-Pierre in 1957 as a tribute to the Villefranche fishermen who once stored their nets inside the building.