What's the worst place in maritime France?

[NPMR]

Blimey! How completely NOT 'picky' am I?

Liked Crouesty (OK marina is vast but there is some charm nearby)
Agree - Le Palais was noisy (and we won't go back) but stuck there in the rain, might be OK
Camaret - Spent 10 days stormbound one year and very bored but found endless good walks, views, buses to places, so can't say 'never again'.
L'Aber Wrach - OK - well bored with place but even here, you can find walks and places to visit. They could do with a better bus service though - and Paluden is like Helford. V.Quiet so if you're self sufficient you're going to do fine.

Thinking about it, all the places we've visited for the last umpteen years, down to the Vendee this year, have something going for them, despite some negatives. Usually the bigger problem is attitude from the staff of marinas or the state of the showers. But if you can think "It's just camping, on water" it feels OK. Works for us.

Grumpiest marina staff this year - La Rochelle, by a big margin. Best? Probably Pornic.

Holland next year?

 

[sailorman]

Blimey! How completely NOT 'picky' am I?

Liked Crouesty (OK marina is vast but there is some charm nearby)
Agree - Le Palais was noisy (and we won't go back) but stuck there in the rain, might be OK
Camaret - Spent 10 days stormbound one year and very bored but found endless good walks, views, buses to places, so can't say 'never again'.
L'Aber Wrach - OK - well bored with place but even here, you can find walks and places to visit. They could do with a better bus service though - and Paluden is like Helford. V.Quiet so if you're self sufficient you're going to do fine.

Thinking about it, all the places we've visited for the last umpteen years, down to the Vendee this year, have something going for them, despite some negatives. Usually the bigger problem is attitude from the staff of marinas or the state of the showers. But if you can think "It's just camping, on water" it feels OK. Works for us.

Grumpiest marina staff this year - La Rochelle, by a big margin. Best? Probably Pornic.

Holland next year?

Try Oranjieplats for a very welcoming club owned marina, the bar opens @ 17.00 sharp & very inexpensive too

 

[Birdseye]

Got stuck in Bourgenay once- a sort of French Eastbourne. Entirely artificial

 

[Sybarite]

Grumpiest marina staff this year - La Rochelle, by a big margin. Best? Probably Pornic.

My marina: Locmiquélic (Rade de Lorient) has been voted the best "accueil" on the Atlantic coast two years running.

I can't help thinking though that the very title of this thread denotes a certain negativity which suggests that people will not get as much out of their visit as they might.

 

[houldsworth]

How about a 'best marina' in France and include the Med coast.

 

[DownWest]

The discription of St Tropez above was true back in 69 when I sailed in there. Lots of speed boats dashing round the bay cutting us as close as they could. The cafes full of people looking round in case some one famous was passing. Glad to get out.

Tonnay Charente is just up the road and is basicly an unloading dock for coal and a few other commodities, but little used. No facilities for yachts and the town is a bit rough. Rochefort is much better and has several live aboards with a good atmosphere. Staff friendly, if a bit useless.

 

[Nikia]

Ive just moved to Port La Foret. Its in Brittany and beautiful. Suns warm. The air smells of sea. The water is clear and blue. Not murky.
Beach has sand. The only thing i can find that faults it is that the shops close for lunch and there is no corner shops.
If you can handle slow living its perfect. Not much choice in ahops like tescos. But the food seems to be all local and fresh and seasonal. Mooring fees for 14 mtr boat is cheaper than the uk and the sailing season is longer if not all year round if you dont mind the F5 to F6 average between oct to april. OH AND NO ONE SPEAKS ENGLISH....

Isn't the seafood cooperative Fantastic!!!
If you haven't found it yet, it's over the bridge then turn left (instead of right for the town).

 

[Andernos]

The pizzeria in Port la Forêt is very good. The one that is in the marina. Wood fired Pizza, the calzone is delicious!

 

[Nico]

St Tropez is undoubtedly the most unpleasant port in France. Full of pretentious uber-rich flaunting their wealth, creepy celebrity-spotters, corrupt capitanerie not the slightest bit interested in welcoming small boats that don't pay bribes, extremely noisy and inconsiderate "cigarette" motor-boats, helicopters buzzing overhead, getting chopped up left and right by motor launches. Absolutely hate the place and stay at least 20nm out to sea if I have to sail past it.

20 NM out to sea from St Tropez would put you about 18 miles inland of Ste Maxime.

 

[Boofleman]

Why would they speak English ! How many places in England do you know where French is spoken?
As you have pointed out, there are so many benefits so there is little point in trying to find the faults.
Enjoy your sailing in France and toast it with a €3.50 bottle of good wine that would cost you 9 quid on tuther side of Channel.

 

[Carmel2]

The Golfe de Lion. Worst / Best Calvi..

 

[KINGFISHER 8]

The Golfe de Lion. Worst / Best Calvi..

What ... all of it?

 

[Sybarite]

The pizzeria in Port la Forêt is very good. The one that is in the marina. Wood fired Pizza, the calzone is delicious!

We have found consistently the best pizzas at La Campagna in Pont Aven.

 

[aluijten]

What's your worst?

For me it's Ouistreham. You have to pass a horrible lock that even when closed has a strong current. Then you arrive in a totally uninspired marina. The town is quite a walk and infested with cheapskate tourists.
The only positive thing about it it's the entrance to go up the river to Caen.

 

[sailorman]

For me it's Ouistreham. You have to pass a horrible lock that even when closed has a strong current. Then you arrive in a totally uninspired marina. The town is quite a walk and infested with cheapskate tourists.
The only positive thing about it it's the entrance to go up the river to Caen.

Not to forget the large SM just up the hill & croissants & wine cave available just over the lock

 

[Poignard]

For me it's Ouistreham. You have to pass a horrible lock that even when closed has a strong current. Then you arrive in a totally uninspired marina. The town is quite a walk and infested with cheapskate tourists.
The only positive thing about it it's the entrance to go up the river to Caen.

I wish you hadn't mentioned Ouistreham lock. It brings back unhappy memories of the last time
I went through it. Not my 'finest hour'!

 

[Carmel2]

What ... all of it?

Yes, harsh but fair.

 

[nauticalnomad]

Id have to say Concarneu is a dead end town.. It has nothing to offer at all...

 

[Daydream believer]

Why would they speak English ! How many places in England do you know where French is spoken?
.

I know a lot where they only speak Rumanian & Polish though & very little english.
Typically some of the hospitals & supermarkets

 

[Daydream believer]

Grimsby
Oh sorry you said France-- well that is nearer than some French ports & it would give any of them a run for their money as far as carpiness goes

& it sometimes does one good to look nearer to home