The whole family is brought together to define the destination of the next holiday. The equation is not an easy one to solve. You are looking for a complete change of scenery, fabulous landscapes, beautiful walks to do, the sea not too far away, lots of things to see, parties full of music and colours... the cake and eat it too. And yet this place exists. This territory is a triangle whose peaks are Arles, Grau-du-Roi and Fos-sur-mer... are you getting warm? If you add that there are horses with herdsmen on them, bulls, pink flamingos and all these charming creatures live in harmony. You've got it, it's the Camargue. This region has everything for it with, in addition, about forty campsites to stay in.
The other golden triangle
The Camargue is a territory of about 150,000 hectares formed by the Rhône delta. It is made up of three parts: the Grande Camargue, between the two arms of the Rhône that are still active, the Grand-Rhône to the east and the Petit-Rhône to the west (Bouches du Rhône); the Petite Camargue or Camargue gardoise, to the west of the Petit-Rhône, in the Gard and east of the Hérault and the Plan du Bourg to the east of the Grand-Rhône (Bouches du Rhône).
Enter the postcard
Choosing the Camargue for your holidays is the assurance of taking the eyes out for the whole stay. It is like entering a postcard... for real. You can enjoy the wide open spaces where the water blends with the sky and where the colours are constantly changing according to the light and the time of day. The Camargue, it is also the meeting with herds of semi-wild horses and bulls without forgetting the thousands of birds which elected residence in this corner of paradise, classified Regional Natural Park. To discover the Camargue, you will have the choice between several means. For example, on foot or by bicycle, lovers of wide open spaces will be able to follow the numerous paths that run along the dikes through magnificent landscapes that cross rice fields, salt marshes, meadows and dunes. No difficulty for hikers, who will however take care to protect themselves from mosquitoes. Care must also be taken not to enter protected areas and not to threaten this exceptional and fragile biotope. You can do these hikes in two ways, on your own or with the help of the many guides and maps published. But you can also be accompanied by a guide who knows the region by heart and who, in addition to taking you through amazing places, can tell you about the Camargue and its many stories.
But in our opinion, the best way is... the king of the Camargue, the horse. From the simple hike of a few hours to the stay of a few days during which you will be able to play... at the gardian, the range which is proposed to you is almost infinite. If you are a beginner or if during your previous meetings with "man's best friend", you have spent more time going down than staying in the saddle, a short walk of a few hours will be more than enough for your happiness. On the other hand, if you want to go deeper, to meet the herds of bulls or half wild horses, 1, 2 or 3 day hikes (all inclusive) are available. Take a tour of the various tourist offices to choose the formula that suits you best.
The Camargue is also...
In May, Roma, Gypsies, Gypsies and Gypsies arrive from all over Europe and even from other continents to venerate their Saint, "Sara the Black". They settle in the streets, in the squares, by the sea. For eight to ten days, they are at home here. The pilgrimage is also an opportunity for reunion and most of the children are baptised in the Church of the Saints. Even if it is a gypsy festival, nothing prevents you from attending. An excellent way to discover a culture of immense richness.
But to spend holidays in the Camargue is also to visit cities which are worth the diversion, starting with Arles. This city, the largest commune of France is considered as the "Capital" of the Camargue. Old of more than 2500 years, it has many traces of the passage of the Romans like the ancient theatre, the magnificent arenas, or the Roman circus. Every year during the summer, it hosts the "Rencontres de la photographie", created in 1970 by the Arlesian photographer Lucien Clergue. You can also spend a few hours at Aigues-Mortes surrounded by its walls or at Le Grau du Roi, a small neighbouring port.
The Camargue is all this and much more, such as its gastronomy with products as varied as seafood, fougasse, "Saucisson d'Arles", bull meat in all its forms, etc. Reading all this, only one question is worth asking... When are you coming?