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Gironde Estuary & Bordeaux - Profile

Location

The entrance to the wide, busy and commercial Gironde estuary lies about 40nm south of La Rochelle. After about 30 miles it splits into two. One arm being the Garonne and the other the Dordogne river. The Garonne river leads to the city of Bordeaux.

Note: Currently the port area at Bordeaux is being re-developed and there are no berths avaialble for visiting yachts. See the Port of Bordeaux website. April 2017

Position 45° 36' N, 01° 14' W (Gironde Estuary entrance)

Position 44° 51' 37"N, 0° 32' 55"W (Bacalan lock, Bordeaux)

Clearance

If travelling up the Garrone River to Bordeaux, once the suspension bridge in view, contact the Harbourmaster either on VHF 12, if possible, or telephone 0556 315864 or 0556 905934.

Last updated April 2017.

Docking

The river is best approached just after low water as there can be strong currents at the entrance. Beware of entering in strong on-shore winds with an ebb tide.

At the entrance to the Gironde estuary, are the ports of Royan & Port Medoc One is on the north bank and the other on the south.

Further up the river is the marina at Pauillac.

Just by the Aquitaine Bridge there is the small floating pontoon, Halte Nautique de Lormont. This is also a stop for the river taxi.

If travelling on up to Bordeaux, there is now a new bridge (named the Chaban-Delmas bridge), over the river. It is a very high vertical lift bridge and its towers are unmistakable. It is here that the entrance to the Bacalan Basin is located on the northern bank of the river.

If proceeding further up the river, note the following; On reaching the low stone bridge (was 2nd from the ocean) avoid using arches 9/10/11 counting from the west. Arch 1 is on the land with a road running under and is on the right hand side travelling up the river. Big barges use these three arches and have to move at low water because of headroom. There are guard rails to protect the arches and at half tide they are under water which is dangerous. Avoid arches 2 and 16 as they are too close to the shore.

Note that Halte Nautique de Bordeaux at Le Point du Jour, does not accept visitors and has not done so for many years.

Last updated April 2017.

Halte Nautique de Lormont

Located just before the Aquitaine Bridge ,
quai Numa Sensine , 33310 Lormont

Tel:(+33 (0)6 76 23 86 02 (French only)

Space limited, so call ahead. River taxi from here to Bordeaux in 15 mins.
Subject to frequent 'bumps' from debris in the river.

Port de Bordeaux

110 Bis Quai des Chatrons , 33300 Bordeaux , France

Tel:+33 5 56 90 59 34 or 05 56 90 59 52 Fax:0033 5 56 90 59 96

Access by lock one and half hours either side of high water. Waiting pontoon just south of the lock entrance.
Call ahead as the lock only operates at HW on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Motor through the lock and then proceed slowly to wait for the lock master to reach and operate the lift bridge into the inner basin. Berth where there is space.

Chris says:

Aug 07, 2015 09:29 PM

Port Medoc. Visited July 2015. Night time arrival, clear port and stbd lights on harbour walls but no other lighting at harbour entrance. Immediately inside the breakwaters are a series of unlit green buoys at the base of the wall and a single unlit red buoy marking the end of a floating barrier. Multi hull pontoon full of fishing boats, cats and assorted craft. Capitanerie, closed over night, at the far end of the marina. Very crowded. Full marina facilities and pleasant marina staff. http://www.port-adhoc.com/en/marinas/port-medoc/

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