Port-Camargue

Port-Camargue
Port-Camargue
District of Le Grau-du-Roi
	Coordinates: 43°31′00″N 4°08′08″E / 43.51667°N 4.13556°E
Country	France
Region	Occitanie
Department	Gard
Arrondissement	Nîmes
Canton	Aigues-Mortes
Intercommunality	Terre de Camargue
Commune	Le Grau-du-Roi
Website	www.portcamargue.com

Port-Camargue is a district of the town of Le Grau-du-Roi, in the Gard department in the administrative region of Occitanie. Built in the 1960s, it is today one of the biggest marinas in Europe.^[1]

History

In 1963, the Nîmes Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), with the assistance of Jean Bastide, launched the project to build a new marina on the Languedoc coast, as part of the Racine mission. The architect selected was Jean Balladur, who also drew up the plans for La Grande-Motte. Its construction began in 1969 with the creation of ponds, quays and piers. Then the first marinas were built. In 1974, the harbor office appeared. In 1980, the second phase of work concerning marinas was launched and in 1985 the initial CCI construction plan. Since then, under market pressure, town planning has continued to evolve with the construction of many additional marinas, apartments and villas. His Régie was chaired by Étienne Mourrut when he was mayor of Le Grau-du-Roi .

Economy

With 4,600 berths, Port-Camargue is one of the top marinas in Europe. More and more permanent residents live there and commercial activity has intensified, with more than a hundred shops. Tourism, along with yachting and boating, is the essence of the economy of Port-Camargue.

Note, moreover, the presence near Port-Camargue of numerous campsites and vast beaches (including that of Espiguette, which extends to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer).

Navigation and nautical information

Access to the marina is by a channel open to the northwest, in an axis leaving little room for swell. The bottom is sandy and dredged on average at 5 metres. Landing under sail in fairly strong mistral weather can be difficult but without any major risks.

Note the presence for the arrival from the south of wave buoys opposite the Pointe de l'Espiguette. These are sometimes removed for maintenance reasons. They make it possible to indicate the limit of the area of sandbanks bordering along the beaches of the bay. When navigating nearby, the use of the depth sounder is highly recommended. Most of the rocky sand bars extend underwater for more than ten meters. Avoid approaching them too closely.

The harbor master's office is on (almost) permanent standby on channel 9 and can be reached by telephone. Refueling is possible; the station is located after the reception area, following the most northerly channel (to port). Finally, note the presence of an SNSM speedboat, two sailing schools and a UCPA center.