Vieux Port de La Ciotat

The Vieux Port of La Ciotat sits at the historic heart of the town, on the Mediterranean coast of the Bouches-du-Rhône department in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, between Marseille and Toulon. According to the La Ciotat tourist office, the site has served as a fishing and trading port since antiquity, and it opens directly onto the seafront and the town's main square, just steps from the shops and cafe terraces of the centre.

The marina holds around 700 berths, split between floating pontoons and quay moorings on lazy lines, welcoming pleasure craft alongside the traditional Provençal boats still kept and worked in the harbour. A harbour office manages moorings and welcomes visiting crews. The port keeps a mixed character between artisanal fishing and leisure boating, which gives it a lively, authentic atmosphere throughout the year.

Cafe and restaurant terraces line the quay, looking out over the hills that frame the bay of La Ciotat and toward the neighbouring basin of the former shipyards. The town itself, known for its historic centre and nearby beaches, makes for an easy setting to stroll and take in the local maritime heritage.

The Vieux Port's identity remains closely tied to La Ciotat's naval history. According to the regional cultural heritage inventory (Inventaire general du patrimoine culturel de la region Sud), excavations carried out near the port in 2005 uncovered remains of ancient structures, including elements that may belong to an agricultural operation from the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. More recently, the shipyards adjoining the port reached their peak activity in the 19th century before closing in 1988; the site is now home to refit and maintenance work on large yachts, continuing the naval know-how that long shaped the town.