Review by Simon McLaughlin – 2025

Some pictures of pontoon and facilities. And fuel pontoon. There are washing machines.

I would rate the facilities as some of the best in the channel.

The staff were very friendly and helpful and will arrange the police to come and stamp your passport. 

Entry to the marina is easy and is All tide access – most will appreciate this is unusual in Normandy. 

The marina is much smaller than Cherbourg but the town is much more interesting and in my opinion worth visiting to see the (modern concrete) architecture.  We would definitely go back.

For Solent based boats it’s about 90nm from Chichester. 

It is worth knowing that should you arrive out of hours you will find the electricity and water on the pontoons won’t work. 

If you go to the marina facilities, (on the left just before the actual exit from the marina) you will find a machine (similar to an atm), here you input your details and pay 15 euro (the following day this will be taken off your true overnight charge). You will then be issued a card which will provide access to the facilities and also will allow you to turn on the electricity.

There are no instructions and we struggled to make it work.

You need to put the issues plastic card on top of the electric/water point -it will then beep. Wait for it to stop beeping then insert your electric plug (not before). If you then insert your (French) hose adaptor (no tap) and then push the water button you can fill your tank.

The fuel pontoon is located in the corner of the marina. It is self service 24hr. Not a huge amount of space for manoeuvring a large boat. It is work eyeballing the marina at low tide (see my photos) to visualise the mud and appreciate that it is important not to stray too far from the pontoons around low water. 

Le Harve is a UNESCO heritage site for its modern (concrete) architecture. Whilst most would agree this cannot compare to the classic beauty  of Honfleur, when put into context of it’s importance in the (fairly) rapid rebuilding of a flattened city in the  post WW2 it is very interesting. 

The modern (concrete) Catholic Church is perhaps most impressive on the inside. 

The cathedral (which was 50% destroyed in WW2) has been sympathetically restored and is one of the very few historical buildings still standing.

I would strongly recommend visiting the library inside the “volcano” the interior is a masterpiece of modern design. 

We also visited Les Bains swimming complex.

The outside resembles a large shipping container but the inside is probably the most interesting swimming pool we have been too (we are a family of keen swimmers). Very interesting art deco design.

50m heated outdoor pool, smaller inside pools, etc.

https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/sports-and-leisure-activities/les-bains-des-docks