Port Camargue
Port Camargue is a must-see when staying in Le Grau-du-Roi. An internationally renowned marina, it is so pleasant to stroll along the quays, admire the boats and let yourself be carried away by the sound of the masts clattering. With 5,000 boats moored year-round, including 2,760 in public ports and 2,240 in marinas, it is the leading marina in Europe and the second largest marina in the world behind San Diego in the United States. The port covers 172 hectares and 10 kilometres of pontoons and quays.
Port Camargue, the pioneer
In the early 1960s, a major development project for the Languedoc coastline was launched: the RACINE mission. In 1964, the construction and development phase of the Languedoc coastline began. The project to create a large tourist, seaside and nautical development in the east of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, in the Gard department, was not originally part of the RACINE mission. However, the existence of a breakwater protecting the bay from silting up and the availability of a unique space capable of accommodating a large port were the catalysts for the project. What was initially called ‘Port Espiguette’ at the start of the Racine project became ‘Port Camargue’.
Le Grau du Roi will then seize the opportunity to build an XXL marina that will become an international benchmark in the nautical world.
Like a breath of Florida air
Architect Jean Balladur drew inspiration from what he had seen in Florida. He designed a port of call, but also a place to live. The marinas and waterfront villas face the sea, and garages are replaced by pontoons: you can moor your boat in front of your terrace, and the sea is ever-present. A unique lifestyle by the water.
Three 1970s sites listed as ‘20th Century Heritage’ can be discovered while strolling along the quays:
The harbour master’s office: Built in 1973, the harbour master’s office, with its vertical design, is a landmark that is easily identifiable by all sailors and recognisable from a distance.
The Les Camarguaises marina complex: With their curved façades, Les Camarguaises are a typical example of a marina in Port Camargue.
The urban ensemble of the Quai d’Honneur: Le Suffren, Le Grand Pavois, Les Jardins du Port and Le Grand Galion, with their S-shape, fish-shaped concrete loggias and seven entrances adorned with carved stone walls, form a timeless ensemble.
A green port: Port Camargue commits to a strong environmental approach
Since 1998, Port Camargue has always been a pioneer in waste and pollution management. With ISO 14001 certification, environmental issues are a priority: monitoring rainwater and diffuse pollution to eliminate oil slicks (absorbent cushions and booms, etc.), monitoring the quality of the port’s water, developing soft mobility (pedestrian paths, cycle paths, free bicycles for boaters stopping over), raising awareness among boaters at pontoon meetings and among nautical professionals about better waste and pollution sorting, as 160 tonnes of waste are processed every year! Hull cleaning water, bilge water, waste oil, rags… each type of waste has its own sorting bin.
