Marina de Pornic

Marina de Pornic occupies a tidal harbour at the mouth of a small river on the Loire-Atlantique coast south of the Loire estuary, in the pays of Jade. Pornic is a charming resort town with a medieval château, whitewashed cottages, and a thriving oyster-farming tradition. The Pays de Retz coast and the Île de Noirmoutier to the south — accessible at low water via the famous Passage du Gois causeway — make for enjoyable coastal exploration. Atlantic tidal range is substantial (up to 5 m at springs), and the approaches to Pornic have sandbanks that require careful pilotage at low water. A rewarding stop for cruisers working south toward the Vendée and the Île de Ré.