In fact historic Antibes is very much intertwined with the local well-travelled yachting community. The Remparts, the old city walls of Antibes, encircle the gigantic superyachts on the quai des Milliardaires, and extend out to the lighthouse at the entrance to Port Vauban. It is from Antibes’ ancient walls that one can enjoy and appreciate some of the best seascapes, with immense wealth both in port and at anchor! Originally a natural harbour since before the Roman times, the port was fortified by Sébastien Le Prestre, Seigneur de Vauban, King Louis XIV’s military engineer.
Port Vauban now serves as the home of the Yacht Club d’Antibes and is the largest marina (in terms of total tonnage of the boats and yachts moored there) in the Mediterranean. Some of the world’s largest and most lavishly appointed superyachts have this illustrious port at the IYCA as their home port, including Russian oil businessman Roman Abramovich’s 86m Ecstasea and his gift to fellow Russian businessman Eugene Shvidler (Le Grand Bleu). Co-founder of Microsoft Paul Allen’s yacht Octopus is also a regular visitor to the harbour. Port Vauban is also home to Alisher Usmanov’s DILBAR, the largest yacht in the world by volume.
