The Camargue, a land of traditions and discoveries
A top holiday destination thanks to its breathtaking natural landscapes and a history rooted in its heritage, the Camargue stretches along the Mediterranean shore, straddling the Gard and the Bouches-du-Rhône.
Dotted with ponds that shelter rich and varied wildlife, lagoons, salt pans with pink reflections and endless stretches of fine, wild sandy beach, the Camargue reveals itself little by little over 1,500 square kilometres between land and sea.
A land of history and wild nature
A natural region delicately cradled between the two arms of the Rhône, the Camargue is a true paradise for the horses and bulls that live freely, in perfect harmony with the pink flamingos.
You can visit it with family, alone or as a couple, on horseback, on a walking tour or by bicycle, from its manades (bull and horse ranches) to its emblematic towns.
Why not start with Arles?
Lively and steeped in history, Arles marks the northern edge of the Camargue. An ancient city famous for its photography festival and its arena, it invites you to stroll through streets decorated with flowered balconies. The Roman arena, the Place du Forum and the Cryptoportiques, as well as the Roman Theatre, the Van Gogh bridge and the Baths of Constantine, are must-sees of your stay.
Medieval Aigues-Mortes
Further away, the citadel of Aigues-Mortes charms with its architecture: its ramparts, its Tour de Constance, its Sablons church and its world-famous pink salt pans make superb Camargue postcards.
Boating, walking and doing nothing
Visitors looking for the open sea will head for Le Grau-du-Roi: an essential stop on any seaside trip, it combines swimming, relaxation and pleasure boating. It is also the ideal place to set off by sailboat or motorboat along the Camargue canals and to the mouth of the Rhône, discovering reed beds, fishermen’s huts, manades and Camargue houses.
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
A town where tourism and spirituality come together, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, the capital of the Camargue, is known for its folklore. With its little white houses, its arena, its harbour and its church of the Black Madonna, it is emblematic of the Camargue.
La Grande-Motte
La Grande-Motte is one of the most popular seaside resorts on the Mediterranean front. Famous for its modern architecture and its many cycle paths, this pedestrian resort is a family paradise. For the sporty, its beaches offer kitesurfing, rowing, jet-skiing, surfing, bodyboarding, water-skiing, wakeboarding and paddleboarding.
And the tour of the Camargue goes on…
Thirty minutes from Arles, Les Baux-de-Provence is not to be missed. In the heart of the Alpilles, perched on its rocky spur, this village classified as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages of France” offers breathtaking views over the whole region, with its ramparts, churches, mansions and castles.
Finally, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and its lavender, Salin-de-Giraud, the Camargue museum, the 75 kilometres of beaches of the Camargue Regional Nature Park and the Marais du Vigueirat are all worth discovering. The Petit Rhône Reserve, Montmajour abbey, Tarascon, Mouriès and its olive oil, Saint-Martin-de-Crau, the Pont de Gau ornithological park, the Vincent Van Gogh Foundation, the Vaccarès lagoon, the beaches of Beauduc and the castle of Avignon are also places not to miss.
To stay on site: beachfront apartment rental in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, or our cottages in the Camargue.
