Our visits to Vannes are only done after careful study of the tide tables, Kerino road bridge open times and the lock gate times south of the marina. The channel up to Vannes starts to become narrow and marked with perches as well as fixed port and starboard markers after Port Anna. Once you head north up the dredged channel towards Vannes you are rewarded by a fantastic view of the city straight ahead. To port is Conleau, the base for the Morbihan ferry boats but also for a company who make ocean-going racing catamarans, which are often tied to the shore or are being assembled ashore.
Prior to construction of a new road underpass under the river a few years ago, arranging to have the road bridge closed was more difficult, but since the traffic using the Kerino road bridge is significantly less. Calling the Vannes Capitainerie (Ch. 9) at the advertised opening times slightly ahead of your arrival usually results in the bridge being remotely opened exposing an entry gap of only about 6m wide between the buttresses.
Further upstream there is a lock gate which is left open at the same time as the advertised Kerino Bridge opening times. Having a motor cruiser in this narrow channel can be challenging with rowers, kayakers and other boats all trying to share a 5m wide channel at the same time! The new Capitainerie is on the shs as you enter the marina. We have always found the harbour staff extremely helpful and friendly. Above the Capitainerie is an excellent restaurant with an extensive partially covered outside dining and drinking area overlooking the marina.
The walk into the historic old part of Vannes takes about 10 minutes, entering through a medieval stone archway, with a wide range of shops and regular street markets. A walk through the old part of this historic city is thoroughly rewarding with narrow streets, old buildings, the cathedral and part of the original city walls. A trip to Vannes is always the ‘icing on the cake,’ as part of a Morbihan cruise.
Nick Fletcher kindly provided the above report
Vannes is at the northern end of the Morbihan. Close to the town and within 20mins of the TGV railway station.
The following site is really useful, linking to a number of marina sites which make up the Compagnie des Ports du Morbihan.
www.compagniedesportsdumorbiha…
www.passeportescales.com/fr/ma…
www.passeportescales.com/fr/po…
After a pleasant sail on the Gulf of Morbihan, you will reach Vanne’s port. Access to the port is made by passing under the Kerino bridge. Open hours are available in the port guide that you can find on the town’s web site www.mairie-vannes.fr/ . You will find many services all year round, from lavatories to wifi connections.
Guide for 2019 including timetables for marina opening times – www.passeportescales.com/image…
Information on accessing Vannes – www.passeportescales.com/fr/ac…
Vannes marina is a tidal dock, kept at a minimum depth of 2.10 metres by a lock, that is open in accordance with the tides. Access to the marina is dependent on crossing Kérino bridge, built on a channel downstream from the lock.
Kérino bridge timetable
Information regarding opening times
Operation of the bridge during tidal dock opening times is as follows:
- From 15 June to 15 September as well as week-ends and public holidays throughout the year:
opening on request during the first and last half hour of the time slot. Opening every half hour in the interim period.
From 16 September to 14 June in the week:
- opening on request during the first and last half hour of the time slot. Opening every half hour in the interim period.
- The midday opening is brought forward by 10 min (11.50 am) except in July and August.
Contact information
Quai Bernard Moitessier PO
Box 509 56000 VANNES
Tel. 02 97 01 55 20
vannes@compagniedesportsdumorb…
Information on the Town of Vannes – en.mairie-vannes.fr/
Trip Advisor review of the Port – www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attracti…
Restaurants – see www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaura…
Webcam www.webcamtaxi.com/en/france/b…
Videos
Interesting articles