Best anchorages and harbours in Atlantic coast

Plage de l'Arnérault

Sand-bottom anchorage off the north coast of the Île de Ré, just east of La Flotte.

• Free
• Sheltered W, SW, S, SE

Luzeronde

Anchorage off the sand beach of Luzéronde on the north coast of the Île de Noirmoutier, west of L'Herbaudière.

• Sheltered NE, E, SE

Port du Bétey

Tidal harbour of 151 berths on the north-east shore of Arcachon Bay, at Andernos-les-Bains.

Saint-Martin-de-Ré

Tidal port on the north coast of the Île de Ré in Charente-Maritime, inside the star-shaped Vauban fortifications.

Pornic

Marina of 914 berths at Pornic in southern Loire-Atlantique, split between the Vieux Port under the castle and the Noëveillard basin on the Côte de Jade.

Port de la Vigne

Small tidal oyster-farmers harbour on the Cap Ferret peninsula, Bassin d'Arcachon, Gironde.

Pauillac

River marina of 125 berths on the west bank of the Gironde estuary, at Pauillac in the Médoc, about 30 nautical miles upstream from Royan.

La Baule - Le Pouliguen

Tidal harbour at the mouth of the étier du Pouliguen between La Baule and Le Pouliguen in southern Brittany, 820 berths.

Royan

Large marina on the right bank of the Gironde estuary mouth, 1000 berths, max draught 2.5 m, VHF 9.

Grande Conche

Open anchorage off the Grande Conche beach east of Royan, on the northern shore of the Gironde estuary.

• Sheltered N, NE, E, SE

Conche de Saint-Georges

Anchorage in the bay north of the Gironde estuary mouth off Saint-Georges-de-Didonne, sand bottom, sheltered from N, NE, E and SE.

• Sheltered N, NE, E, SE

Hendaye

Marina of 890 berths on the Bidassoa estuary, last French harbour on the Atlantic before the Spanish border.

La Rochelle - Port des Minimes

Marina of 5 100 berths south of La Rochelle, one of the largest leisure harbours on the European Atlantic coast.

Saint-Jean-de-Luz - Ciboure - Port Larraldenia

Marina of 81 berths in the bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Ciboure, on the Basque coast, sheltered behind the three breakwaters of the bay.

Anse du Boucau

Cove on the north-east side of Île d'Houat in the Mor Braz, south Brittany, opposite the village of Saint-Gildas and Port Saint-Gildas.

• Paid
• Sheltered W, E, SW, S, SE

Mouillage de Le Bouil

Sand anchorage on the Vendée coast east of Jard-sur-Mer, between the Pointe du Payré estuary and the beach of Ragounite.

• Sheltered NW, N, NE, E

Anse du Cavalier - Pointe de Boyardville

Sand anchorage off the Pointe de Boyardville on the east coast of Île d'Oléron, facing the Pertuis d'Antioche.

• Free
• Sheltered SW, W, NW

Meschers-sur-Gironde

Small marina on the right bank of the Gironde estuary between Royan and Talmont, 260 berths, max draught 2 m, VHF 9.

Anse de Maupas

Shallow anchorage on the north shore of the Anse de l'Aiguillon, Pays de la Loire, at the western edge of the Marais Poitevin.

• Paid
• Sheltered N, NE, E, W, NW

La Linière

Sand anchorage on the north coast of Noirmoutier island, between L'Herbaudière and Noirmoutier-en-l'Île.

• Sheltered SW, S, SE

Petite Rade

Sand anchorage in the outer roadstead of Les Sables d'Olonne, just south of the harbour entrance, on the Vendée coast.

• Sheltered NW, N, NE, E

Plage des Vergnes

Anchorage on the right bank of the Gironde estuary in Charente-Maritime, mud bottom off Les Vergnes beach.

• Sheltered N, NE, E, SE

Anglet - Brise-Lames

Marina of 425 berths on the right bank of the Adour estuary between Anglet and Boucau, on the Basque coast.

Anse des Soux

Sandy cove on the south coast of the Île d'Yeu, between the Pointe des Corbeaux and the Pointe du But, sheltered from the north.

• Sheltered NW, N, NE, W

Le Plomb

Drying tidal harbour on the Pertuis Breton shore at L'Houmeau, north of La Rochelle, Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Port de Morin

Tidal harbour of 850 berths at L'Épine on the west coast of Noirmoutier, sheltered behind a sand spit at the mouth of the étier de l'Arceau.

Bourgenay

Rock-bottom anchorage off Talmont-Saint-Hilaire in Vendée, just outside the marina of Port Bourgenay on the Côte de Lumière.

• Sheltered NE, E

Île aux Oiseaux

Low sand and marsh island in the middle of the Bassin d'Arcachon, known for its two cabanes tchanquées on stilts.

• Sheltered W, NW

Mouillage du Pavé Charron

Buoy field off Charron in the Baie de l'Aiguillon, at the mouth of the Sèvre Niortaise, Charente-Maritime.

• Sheltered NW, N, NE, W, E, SE

Baie de la Perroche

Buoy field of 75 moorings off the Perroche beach on the west coast of Oleron island, Charente-Maritime.

• Paid
• Sheltered N, NE, E