Horses and flamingos in the Camargue

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Want to see cowboys, flamingos and rice fields during one holiday? It is possible, and you don't even have to leave Europe for it! You will find all this in the south of France, in the Grande Camargue. This region is also called the 'wild west' of France. It is a short drive from your holiday home in France, but it is definitely worth it. You can also stop for a night in the Camargue if you are on your way to your holiday park in France. The beautiful nature reserve of 750km2 has a unique mix of flora, fauna and local traditions. The pink flamingos and famous white Camargue horses are well known. Just like the characteristic black bulls, the salt marshes with their pink water and the huge rice fields. Watch the Gardians perform  and go on beautiful walks through the Camargue. Cycling and horse riding on Camargue horses are also popular things to do.

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Camargue in the Rhône delta

The Camargue is located in the south of France, on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, on the border of the departments of Gard and Bouches-du-Rhône. To the north is Arles, the capital, in the heart of the Camargue is the town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. The Rhône delta was formed thousands of years ago. The Romans founded large farms on the fertile soil. It is even thought that one of them, the senator Camars, of the Annia people, gave the area the name "camaricus", which means "that of Camar". Camaricus became Camargue in time. Because the sea was so close and the swamps so large, dikes were built in the Middle Ages. The forest was also cut down and salt began to be extracted from the swamps. Rice really came into its own in the 19th century, around 1840. This also kept the floods of the Rhône under control. After almost disappearing after the Second World War, rice is now grown on 20,000 hectares in the Camargue. Visit the Musée Camarguais to learn more about the history of the Camargue.

Activities

  • Horse riding
  • Go to a cowboy show
  • Visit salt lakes
  • Go cycling and hiking
  • Practise water sports
  • Go sunbathing on the beach
  • Visit tourist villages
  • Go bird watching
  • Learn about bulls tradition
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Flamingo’s

People from all over the world come to the Camargue to see the unique variety of birds. The popularity of the region can be seen in the many holiday homes and holiday parks in this part of France. The flamingos are especially popular. A good place to admire flamingos is the Parc Ornithologique du pont de Gau, a nature reserve especially for bird lovers. The Camargue is the only place in France and one of the few places around the Mediterranean where flamingos breed. They breed mainly in the salt pans, where the even water level is ideal for their eggs so that they do not drown and are protected from predators at the same time. In addition, it is a protected environment. Since 1970, flamingo-friendly zones have been established in the salt lakes of the Camargue, and hunting for these birds has stopped in France. This has led to a significant increase in the population, from about 25,000 individuals in 1980 to an estimated 60,000 today. The Camargue also offers an abundance of plankton, the staple food of flamingos. The special beak of the flamingos is perfectly adapted to sift plankton out of the water. Are you impressed by these fantastic creatures? You can even adopt a flamingo.

Gardians: Cowboys in de Camargue

The cowboys who ride the famous white horses are known as gardians. They have been taking care of the horse herds in the coastal area of the Camargue since the 16th century. These horses are exceptionally suited to the rugged terrain of the Camargue and are not caught and tamed until they are three years old.
Activities to see the cowboys:

  1. Horseback riding: Some gardians now work as guides for tourists who want to explore the Camargue on horseback.
  2. Course Camarguaise: This is a popular event in which young men, the "rasateurs", try to remove ribbons from the horns of bulls without getting hurt.
  3. Abrivado: An exciting event in which bulls are herded one by one through the streets of a city, ending at the bullring.
  4. Photography workshops: Special photo sessions are organized to capture the white horses and the gardians in their natural environment.

Horses in the Camargue

The horses in the Camargue are also called the "white horses of the sea". These horses are an old breed, one of the oldest horse breeds in the world, which also have their origins in the Camargue in southern France. They are born with a black or brown colour and later develop their distinctive white coat that protects them from the bright sun. The horses are gentle and intelligent by nature, making them suitable for riders of various levels. They are used as dressage horses and as work horses in the marshes and salt flats of the Camargue. Over the years, they have also acquired a clear cultural function. They are used by the gardians, the local cowboys in herding black bulls and during traditional events such as the abrivado, where bulls are led through village streets. If you want to go horseback riding during your holiday, you can take a ride on one of these Camargue horses.
The Camargue offers a unique opportunity to experience this fascinating cowboy culture, complete with wild horses, bulls, and a landscape reminiscent of the American Wild West, but in the south of France.

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Camargue race

Controversial bullfights also take place in the Camargue  . Unlike the Spanish Corrida, these are without fatality. In this text we inform you about this without making a judgment as to whether these festivities are morally justified. In these fights, young men, called "raseteurs", try  to pluck a rosette (cocarde) from the head of a young bull. Prior to the Course Camarguaise,  the "abrivado" takes place. This is an impressive tradition in which more than 200 cowboys lead the bulls over a distance of 6 kilometres from the beach to the bullring in the city. Although the Course Camarguaise is less bloody than traditional bullfights, it remains a source of debate. In 2011, almost half of the French were in favour of a ban on bullfighting. Nevertheless, the French Ministry of Culture has proposed to designate the Feria (the festival of the bulls) as intangible cultural heritage.

Hiking during the holidays in the Camargue

You can go on many beautiful walks from your holiday home in France, but a walk in the Camargue is even more special. You will experience the diversity of nature and the rich fauna and flora. Stroll along the salt lakes, rice paddies, and reed beds. Take a look at the flamingos, horses and bulls. Popular hiking trails include the Domaine de la Palissade with three different lengths and the Salin-de-Badon where you can learn and see more of the history of the region. You can go on walks on the seawall with beautiful views of the sea and the surrounding area near Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. This charming village with lively boutiques and restaurants is one of the most popular seaside resorts of the Mediterranean. There are also walks through the Camargue with ramparts and narrow starting from Aigues-Mortes. Other places on the edge of the Camargue are Le Grau du Roi, Fos sur Mer and Martigues.

Pilgrimage in Saintes Maries de la Mer

The Camargue is also known for its exceptional pilgrimage tradition in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, the village in the middle of the Camargue. Every year on 24 and 25 May, a great pilgrimage takes  place that attracts gypsies from all over Europe. This colourful event is dedicated to Sarah, the black patroness of the gypsies, and the two Marys: Mary Magdalene and Mary Salome. According to tradition, around the year 40, a boat without a rudder, sail or provisions stranded on the coast of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. On board were the first missionaries who had known Jesus, including the two Marys and Sarah. The statues are carried to the sea and back to the church during the pilgrimage. You can visit the church in Saintes Maries de la Mer. There is a staircase leading down to it from where you have a beautiful view of the surrounding area.

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