It is undeniable that France is one of the most visited places in the world, with about 117 million people visiting the country in pre-covid times. Without a doubt, there is much to see in France and a tourist is liable to have trouble deciding where to go. However, if you are traveling in the south of France, you should visit the Camargue.The Camargue is not a city or a village. It's not even a museum, but it is definitely a wonderful tourist attraction that shouldn’t be missed; especially if the visitor is a lover of nature. The region of France known as Camargue is a wilderness area located between the Mediterranean Sea and two arms of the Rhone River, the Grand Rhone on the east, and the Petit Rhone on the west. It is just south of the town of Arles. The delta created was eventually protected from invading water to create an area of salt flats and marshland. It is also rich in agriculture. In 1970, a nature preserve and regional park were created to protect over 320-square miles of wildlands.
10 Experience The Rush Of Riding The White Horses
Experience riding a white horse from the famous Camargue region. These Sea Horses, who used to plow the land and herd black bulls, are honored at the annual Féria du Cheval in July in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. The white horses have lived in the area for centuries and many still roam free. However, tourists can tour portions of Camargue riding one of these beautiful horses.
9 Experience Musée de la Camargue
The Camargue Museum is a social museum that depicts the uniqueness of man's relationship with nature in the Camargue. It is located 10 kilometers from Arles on the route to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, on the site of the Mas du Pont de Rusty, the administrative center of the Camargue Regional Natural Park. The museum, which was renovated in 2013, provides an immersion in the Camargue of yesterday and today through the permanent exhibition "Le fil de l'eau, le fil du temps." Historical works, interactives, playful sound installations, movies, and contemporary works of art encourage young and old to travel between the past, present, and future.
8 Visit The Tower Of Constance
The Tower de Constance, a forbidding round tower bordering the ramparts, is visible from afar as one approaches the town of Aigues Mortes. It is well-known in the region for its cruel role in the persecution of Protestantism in women in the 17th century, where declaring and practicing Protestantism was considered a sin. The tower was used to jail protestant women. The women were provided with minimal food, barely any light, and no creature comforts. Now, the tower is a museum and memorial to the women who suffered and died there.
7 Experience The Panoramic Cinematic View At ​​Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
Experience a wholesome, and breathtaking walk in the capital city of Camargue, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Home to many historical churches and rustic stoneworks, the destination is filled with museums, authentic restaurants, and panoramic views. Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is located on the edge of Camargue Natural Regional Park, in which the Rhône River and the Mediterranean Sea cross. The streets of this charming village in the Bouches-du-Rhône region are alive with local culture and customs.
6 Experience Salt Pan
From the sea dunes, Laguna, and rice-growing marshes, the Camargue region is also known for its vast salt production. The region’s thriving salt production business is located between the sandy Mediterranean beaches of Montpellier to the west and the Rhône River to the east. Even the Romans mined salt here. The pinkness of the water is mainly caused by the pink algae (Dunaliella Salina) that live in it. This pink alga is the primary source of sustenance for another typical saltwater dweller, the artémias salina, a tiny shrimp, and provides the pink coloring to the resident flamingos.
5 Excursion To Aigues-Mortes In The Camargue
Aigues-Mortes is a medieval city encircled by ramparts that were built on the orders of King Louis IX, the French king also known as Saint Louis. Guests will get to explore the wonderfully preserved medieval walls that surround the city, walk the labyrinth streets, indulge in the culture, and learn about its history and the French language. The name of the town comes from the marsh and salt flats. It means “stagnant water.”
4 Take A Boat Trip With Tiki III On Le Petit Rhône
- Price for Adults: €15
- Price for Children: €8
Camargue is a place with lots of water that allows guests to have a great experience when exploring and traveling by boat. Take a famous city boat trip on the TIKI III. The guided boat trip will take every guest along the Petit Rhône river. Tourists will have a view of fauna such as bulls, horses, egrets, European bee-eaters, and vegetation while being guided by the captain's commentary, stopping halfway to let the visitors meet the herdsman that will present his herd of bulls and horses.
3 La Cabane aux Coquillages
For 18 years, La Cabane aux Coquillages has been offering a wide choice of seafood and shellfish to savor without moderation, visited by many tourists. The experience is something every tourist should not miss out on. Simple and quality products are available at two points of sale: on the banks of the Aven near the port of Kerdruc in Névez, and on the port of Trévignon near Concarneau. Guests have the options of mussels, oysters, cockles, winkles, clams, and scallops in season.
2 Pont de Gau Ornithological Park
Experience the Pont de Gau Ornithological Park. The area is located nearly 4 kilometers from Saintes Maries de la Mer. The park was founded in the 1900s by the French naturalist André Lamouroux. The area has a wide land area that is about 60 hectares of Camargue wildlife and flora and discovery pathways that guests can follow together with their tour guide. The reception counter has scavenger quests, trail maps, and top guides. The ornithological park, which is open every day of the year, is the ideal place to explore, observe, and photograph a profusion of bird species, including the magnificent pink flamingos.
1 Saint-Trophime Primatial Catholic Church
Eglise St-Trophime, a cathedral built back in the 11th century, is a Roman masterpiece in the great exhibition known as the world. St. Trophime was dedicated to St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, both of which can be seen in their full-length statues on either side of the gateway. The church has been well-preserved, with all of its beautiful decorations and grandeur. Inside the church, there is a treasure that contains bone fragments of Arles' bishops. Cloître St-Trophime, a neighboring monastery, hosts occasional exhibitions.