The 10 largest ports in France • Wanderlix

Hisse and Ho! The French and the navy is a great story of love. The proof is with this ranking of the 10 largest ports in France.

Cocoricos can be proud of their nautical charts. First among the world sailboat manufacturers, fourth among those of pleasure craft: France seriously taquine in the field.

In addition, it has four maritime facades that allow it to be at the heart of global maritime traffic. It also shows a strong and privileged presence in the rest of the world’s waters thanks to the overseas territories.

For years, trade and pleasure activity has been growing exponentially, while many French ports are engaged in environmental approaches. Speaking of ports, do you know what are the leading figures of our heritage? No? This falls well, here is the list of the 10 largest ports in France!

10. Martinique

We begin this ranking in the Overseas Territories. Go to the great port of Martinique. Evoking French exoticism from the outset, he plays a major role in passenger transport. The port of Martinique (to the elbow with the port of Guadeloupe on this aspect) has been able to impose itself among the major actors of tourism.

For several years, it has consistently recorded a progression in the cruise industry. Another interesting fact, the port of Martinique is one of the most welcoming in the industrial field.

9. Guadeloupe

The overseas seaports, bathing in an environment of exceptional wealth, are actively involved in the preservation of the seabed. The Guadalupian port, for example, deploys large-scale plans to manage its natural spaces with a green hand.

But if it appears in our ranking, it is indeed because it is also a real node located in the heart of a dense maritime network.

8. La Réunion

The port of the Meeting enjoys an exceptional geographical positioning, close to the main roads of the marine transport from/to the south of Africa, India, Europe and Oceania. Located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, this radiant infrastructure is the first in the overseas territories.

The Port of Commerce, Pleasure and Fishing, the Port of the Meeting brings together all types of activity.

7. Bordeaux

We are now in metropolitan France. It must be said that with its strategic and diverse openings, our territory has considerable assets. Open on no less than four maritime faces (the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Channel and the North Sea), it is one of the best placed in the world!

On the Atlantic facade, the port of Bordeaux has nothing to envy the largest ports of France. It is also the only one who has been able to develop its fluvial activity with such magnitude.

6. La Rochelle

Open on the Atlantic, the port of La Rochelle actively participates in the preservation of Marine natural park of the Gironde estuary and the Pertuis Sea.

Old 1880, it is one of the oldest French ports. In the same way as Rouen (to be discovered in a few seconds), the port of La Rochelle is an indispensable actor of French grain export.

5. Rouen

We talked about two lines above: the port of Rouen is fundamental to the French cereal trade. It is even the first cereal port in Western Europe. It can also be proud of its unwavering adherence to the association of La Maison de l’Estuaire in charge of the preservation of the National Natural Reserve of the Estuary of the Seine.

The large ports of France also serve the field of logistics. This is especially the case of Rouen (Dunkerque too, a little higher in the rankings) which has a rough chain of construction projects dedicated to this field.

4. Nantes Saint-Nazaire

If the reputation of the port of Nantes Saint-Nazaire comes mainly from its shipyards of the Atlantic, this port is also very powerful on the historical plane.

This is demonstrated by its former base of submarines. Today, it is mainly the new energies that are developing within the port and its global exchange programmes. Like Bordeaux, this historic port of the Grand West has also been able to make the beautiful part of the river activity.

3. Dunkerque

Third largest French port, Dunkerque is nevertheless the first when it comes to eco-friendly commitments. It is the best student in terms of protecting fauna and flora and water quality.

Originally, Dunkirk Harbour was dedicated to fishing. After reviewing and expanding by Louis XVI and his architect Vauban himself, this port has an exciting history.

2. Le Havre

The second largest port of maritime trade, Le Havre is a reflection of France’s intense maritime activity. If it only happens “second” in this classification, it is the first when it comes to measuring the traffic power of containers and... the export of wines and spirits!

With its location, the port of Le Havre is booming. Today, its ideal position between Paris and Normandy even gives it the title of first port of call. At industry level, Le Havre can be the most efficient in automotive trade.

1. Marseille

Marseille, the second largest city in France, can finally swell the torso in front of its rival forever: Paris . It is her, and she alone, who holds the title of the largest port of France.

Moreover, the Marseilles are not very proud of it. Passengers, containers, oil, count in tons and millions every year! Posted on the great maritime road that connects Europe to Asia, the port of Marseille is vital for imports and exports in France.

Do you know that Marseille is even third in the ranking of hydrocarbon ports in Europe? If the spatial diversity of merchandise trade is enormous, that of tourism traffic is also so. The port of Marseille is one of the first in the area of the cruise: the first in France, the fifth in the Mediterranean basin. A dynamic way of travel that continues to seduce travellers from all over the world.