This paper presents the experimental characterization of a spray produced by a VVER-440 nuclear reactor type nozzle. Several droplet size and velocity profiles have been obtained at different pressure supplies and different heights below the outlet of the spray nozzle. Repeatability and stability have been checked. A log-normal size distribution can be fitted on the experimental results. Correlations between droplet velocities and sizes at different locations are also given, showing that for small droplet sizes (below 300 mu m) no clear size-velocity correlation exists below 0.7 m from nozzle outlet, but for larger droplets, a classical evolution of this correlation is observed. It is concluded that the experimental data obtained at 300 mm from the nozzle outlet can be used as spray boundary conditions for numerical calculations with CFD codes. The other experimental data (at 500 and 700 mm from the nozzle outlet) can serve for detailed code validation, if the correlations between sizes and velocities are considered in the validation procedure: indeed, the averaging of droplet sizes and velocities can mask some typical spray results on droplet sizes and velocities evolutions. If a good code validation of the size-velocity correlations is obtained at 500 and 700 mm from the nozzle outlet, the concerned code may then be used with good confidence to extrapolate the results at other distances (for example, 3 m, 5 m) which cannot be obtained easily experimentally.