The salt route
The first few kilometres will take you to the route des Salines, in Vauvert, where unusual drillings stand by the roadside. The 23 million year old rock salt deposit is extracted from the bowels of the earth by these drillings which go down to a depth of 2500-3000 metres. The salt extracted from the subsoil will be used mainly for the production of PVC.
The descent of the landscape axis of Costières de Nîmes will deliver you an exceptional point of view: in a single glance, you embrace all the Camargue gardoise, and well beyond when the weather lends itself. You will be transported from landscapes to natural ribbons where the panoramas are of great beauty: wooded valleys and old restored farmhouses planted in the middle of the vineyards depict pictures full of poetry, inclined to wonder. The names of the surrounding estates reflect this harmony: "Belle Fontaine", "Bel Air", "Beau Bois", "Beau Regard", "Belle Vue"... Then cross the hamlet of Franquevaux.Interpretation trail
Franquevaux is bordered by the Rhone to Sete canal and its charming houses are surrounded by the Scamandre ponds and reed beds with their incredible biodiversity. In the Middle Ages, Franquevaux was one of the most famous abbeys of the Bas-Languedoc. The ruins of the old Cistercian abbey gave birth to Franquevaux: embedded in the buildings over the centuries, the traces of the abbey remain unchanged. The "Franquevaux Abbey Interpretation Trail" has been created with the aim of making the prestigious past of the village and its abbey known to as many people as possible. Educational panels and an interpretation table retrace the history of the abbey and its location in the Franquevaux landscape. This circuit, which runs through the small town, highlights the identity of Franquevaux and its rich history.
An exceptional terroir
In a unique natural heritage, at the crossroads between the southern plateau of the Costières and the Rhone Valley, Gallician spreads its vineyards between hills and ponds. Flooded with sunshine and bathed in the beneficial breeze from the Mediterranean, the vines here enjoy ideal conditions for making the marvellous wines of Costières-de-Nîmes. In Gallician, stop off at the charming little marina where artistic and temporary exhibitions are held from March to October. A real nature stopover, and labeled "Accueil Vélo", the port is a gateway to observe the fauna and flora of the Regional Nature Reserve of Scamandre. In the heart of the Camargue traditions, Gallician is the ideal place to escape to the Petite Camargue.
From here, you can take the greenway back to Vauvert as mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, or continue your journey to the Camargue gardoise.Nature as a backdrop
From then on, multiple landscapes will follow one another. The itinerary winds pleasantly between vineyards and orchards, a few steps from marshes and meadows where bulls and Camargue horses graze serenely. We advise you to make a stop on the Tourradons bridge (make a round trip): from this metal bridge, you will have an unobstructed view of the Rhône-Sète canal, as far as the Tour de Constance in Aigues-Mortes; the birdlife is particularly exceptional here, so take the opportunity to observe the birds that populate the ponds and marshes. (remember to bring binoculars!)
Le Cailar, a traditional bullfighting village
Then continue quietly towards Le Cailar, in the very heart of the Petite Camargue. Enter the village via the roundabout of the Sanglier (the name of the famous cocardier bull whose stele and tomb are nearby), and you will understand that everything here is tradition and authenticity. Located at the confluence of the rivers Vistre and Rhone, in its cocoon of meadows and marshes where manades and vineyards are coiled, Le Cailar is none other than the cradle of the Camargue race. With its unique signage in France, the work of the artist François Boisrond, Le Cailar can be tamed and reveals all the charm of its Camargue identity. Named "the Mecca of Camargue bullfighting" at the beginning of the 20th century by the manadiers félibres (poets of the Langue d'oc), Le Cailar is steeped in bullfighting traditions, alive in the hearts of the inhabitants. It is also the village with the most manades on its territory. Don't miss the rhythm of the votive festivals and the Camargue races where the bull is the master of ceremony.
Join Vauvert
In this region full of authenticity and traditions, Vauvert is no exception and proudly displays its past and its attachment to its Camargue identity. From mid-March to the end of October, the Camargue races animate the town. The bull is the king, adorned with its black dress, its majestic horns and its valour. In the arenas, the "cocardier" (the bull) and the "raseteurs" (the men dressed in white) confront each other: if we applaud the courage of the men trying to take down the attributes on the bull's forehead, we literally give the animal a standing ovation. In this practice, the bull is honoured and there is no killing. The bull returns to its natural environment, in the neighbouring manades. If the Camargue traditions run in the veins of the village, it is the vine that made Vauvert grow. Since the revolutionary period, the Costières are covered with vineyards, and it is during the 19th century that the Vauvert wine grower develops, with its typical houses. It is also the time when the Belfry (Clock Tower), the town hall and the Great Temple were rebuilt. The history of Vauvert is also marked by the presence of the Notre-Dame sanctuary since the Middle Ages, an essential stop on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Here came in particular to meditate Saint-Louis, Charles IX, François I, Peter of Aragon and Pope Clement V.
