Gironde — Talmont-sur-Gironde
Talmont · Talmont anchorage
45°31.9'N 000°54.3'W
Depth
4–9m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good Holding
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m on sand/mud. Tidal current 2–3kt ebb — anchor must be well set and swinging circle accounts for strong stream. Spectacular setting below cliff village. Commercial traffic in main Gironde channel.
About This Anchorage
Talmont-sur-Gironde is one of the most beautiful villages in France — a medieval bastide built in the 13th century on a dramatic limestone promontory jutting into the Gironde estuary, crowned by the 12th-century Romanesque church of Sainte-Radegonde. The village was classified as one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. The anchorage below the cliff offers one of the most visually spectacular experiences on the French Atlantic coast: the church rising above, the pale limestone cliffs plunging to the water, and the wide Gironde estuary spreading to the N. The estuary here is still tidal but sheltered from Atlantic swell — a relaxed anchorage with good holding in the estuary mud.
Protected From
N · NW · NE · W
Exposed To
S · SE
Setting Your Anchor
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free
- Permit required
- No
- Mooring buoys
- No
Restrictions: Commercial shipping in main Gironde channel — stay in anchorage area S of channel. Tidal current 2–3kt ebb — strong; ensure anchor is set in sufficient depth. Gironde bore (mascaret): tidal bore propagates upriver — not dangerous at this anchorage but be aware.
Hazards
- !TIDAL CURRENT: 2–3kt ebb current in the Gironde — anchor drag risk; set anchor firmly and double-check before leaving boat
- !COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC: large vessels use the Gironde main channel; maintain clearance; VHF Ch 12 Bordeaux Port
- !TIDAL RANGE 3–4m: calculate LW depth before anchoring — estuary shoals on the edges
- !GIRONDE BORE (MASCARET): tidal bore wave — not dangerous at anchor but unnerving if not expected
Skipper's Tips
- →Walk the village of Talmont-sur-Gironde — classified as one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France; the church of Sainte-Radegonde is extraordinary.
- →The surrounding Gironde vineyards produce some of France's finest wines (Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux appellation) — wine tasting nearby.
- →Bring a stern anchor or kedge — the tidal current makes the boat lie to current rather than wind, swinging circle is elongated.
Facilities
Several excellent restaurants in the village above — famous for Gironde sturgeon (historically) and local fish. Village accessible by dinghy and short walk up the cliff path.
Nearest provisions: Royan (12nm)
Best Months & Season
May, June, July, August, September
May–September. Best in settled weather when wind is not against the tidal ebb. Outstanding estuary destination.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Sleep Peacefully at Gironde — Talmont-sur-Gironde
With a 4–5m tidal change overnight and tidal current in the Gironde & Charente-Maritime, your boat's position and swinging circle change significantly through the night. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — so a dragging anchor or unexpected current sets off the alarm before you drift into trouble.
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