The ports of L’Ile Rousse Located on the island of the same name, it is a major hub for French passenger shipping, featuring a marina that can accommodate 250 vessels, 85 of which are for transit. A wide pier, approximately 200 meters long, extends from the island’s coast toward the southeast, and ferries and cruise ships dock there. The area reserved for recreational boating is located southwest of the pier, near the area reserved for fishing vessels. Vessels with greater draft moor at mooring buoys inside the pier. In the summer, when the port is full, mooring is permitted on the outer side of the pier, where the water is 4 meters deep.
The dock features a fuel pump, water and electrical outlets, two slipways, a boat hoist, and a 15-metric-ton mobile crane. The Town, located about 1 km away, offers technical and mechanical assistance, grocery stores, restaurants, and hotels.
Landmark in approach is L’Ile Pietra red ochre in colorjoined to the mainland by a dikeon which a lighthouse stands. In rough seas, sail around the islets of Brucciu and Piana, located north of the island, taking care to avoid an unmarked rock located southeast of Piana Island. At night, the lighthouse on Ile Pietra indicates the course to follow with its white light.
To enter the harbor, stay east of the lighthouse, then head toward the green light at the end of the breakwater pier, and finally proceed toward the green light at the marina. While maneuvering into the harbor, take care not to obstruct merchant ships maneuvering within the harbor or fishing boats entering or leaving. The harbor is sheltered from all winds and is accessible in all weather conditions. Strong Tramontana winds can make mooring and approaching the harbor difficult. The harbor is occupied by many permanently moored vessels, so maneuvering space is limited. Contact the Harbor Master’s Office to be assigned a mooring.
L’Île-Rousse is a tourist and seaside resort located in the Balagne region. The old town lies on the edge of a vast bay bordered on one side by a white-sand beach lined with a pedestrian promenade and on the other by the red-granite peninsula from which it takes its name. The town also serves as a starting point for exploring the region’s inland areas.
In summer in Ile Rousse there is a sea urchin day, a typical local product.
