Port Vauban: Capital of Yachting in the Mediterranean

The population of Antibes in 2021 was 71 838 (source: Ville Data) making it one of the biggest towns on the French Riviera after Nice.

Originally a bustling Greek trading post, Antibes has a rich maritime history. However, despite its size today it has kept its small fishing village feeling. Antibes has maintained its reputation as a tourist destination with plenty to see and do including museums, beaches and traditional festivals.

Why is Port Vauban so popular ?

Port Vauban has 1500 berths and is the largest marina in Europe by tonnage. With good proximity to Cannes and Monaco and its capacity to welcome boats up to 160-metres, it’s one of the hubs of yachting in the Mediterranean.

If you walk from Port Vauban to the old town of Antibes (Vieil Antibes) you only have one road to cross over to get to the pedestrian area. Even though there is hustle and bustle, the general lack of traffic in and near the port area makes it feel very relaxing and meandering along the historical streets is a real joy.

Antibes would not be the same without the Port Vauban and the same goes for the Port. Both go hand in hand to make this an alluring yachting destination.

Guarantee of Use Berth Contracts (Contrats de Garantie d’Usage) for Port Vauban are now being sold for a period of 5, 10 or 21 years with the new leases starting on the 1st January 2022. These replace the system of leasehold contracts set up in 1972 for berths from 13-metres in length. This type of contract consists of guaranteeing its beneficiary a location in a defined area of ​​the port. If it does not therefore entail the private assignment of a specific berth, it represents, on the other hand, for its beneficiary an opportunity to perpetuate a berth in the port, in return a contribution to the financing of new port works.

Port Vauban Development

As quoted on Port Vauban’s web site, their aim is to ‘’Re-establish Port Vauban as the Mediterranean port of reference of the 21st Century‘’. This is some challenge and huge investment is needed to update the Ports facilities.

The development of Port Vauban will have two distinct phases:

• The upgrading of services, technology, resources and organisation.
• A €135 million project to modernise Port Vauban led by the Philippe Prost Architecture Studio.

Port Vauban is also accelerating its transformation with the delivery of the brand new International Yacht Club d’Antibes (IYCA) building and the new IYCA quay in September 2022.

The modernisation of these infrastructures will result in top-of-the-range amenities for visiting vessels, their owners and crew.

Sources:
Ville Data: Population Antibes 2021
OnboardOnline: A New Era for Port Vauban