This primitive and primitive land is the largest plain in Provence. The savagery of this rhodanien delta, beaten by the mistral, comes from the fierce and incessant struggle between the river, the sea and the earth. Over the centuries, the Mediterranean and the Rhône have taken their neighborhoods on the land. But the Camargue is «╚ revancharde ╩»: it advances from ten to fifty meters a year. This little game between land and water condemns men and animals to live on semi-terrestrial, mid-sea surfaces. On the other hand, it opens a large area of freedom where black bulls, white horses and flaming flames are enchanting.
A large open-air chart
Terre de contrasts, bathed in light to none else, the Camargue can only seduce by its still very natural environment and the men who live it. The guardians, in the eye, with a sort of iron trident with which they are obeyed by the bull, go through the horseshoes -♀ as well as their ancestors—to watch the herds. Black velvet jacket lined with red, pants in mole-like skin very often gray-blue, brown, beige and sometimes black, shirts with Provençal drawings of all colors, this is the dress of the guard, not forgetting the black hat in soft felt.
The Camargue, very anchored in tradition, presents landscapes in perpetual motion. Brackish marshes, wild dunes, highlands becoming fertile thanks to the pugnacity of men, this palette of landscapes composes a unique region in France; to this is added a concentrate of life with thousands of birds, the mansions of bulls and horses dispersed in the middle of this often indomitable nature. This rich mosaic gave birth to Camargue's regional natural park. It protects this exceptional site from all nuisances, whether from industrial, tourist or real estate. Its territory covers the Holy Maries-de-la-Mer and the part of the delta of the municipality of Arles, 86 ¾ 300… At the heart of these large expanses were an observation center, a Camargue museum, trails with observatories, paths to be discovered on foot, in calèche or horse.
Wild Beasts
If the space is his kingdom, the bull is his god. Black on the blue of the sky, his massive silhouette appears almost on the detour of each path. And it is proud, the animal, because it belongs to the European race that can live in total freedom on brackish pastures. The mother is dressed alone in nature and raises his calf almost without human intervention. Apart from the iron marking and the grouping of the herd for sale, the only contact with man is the health surveillance and possibly a food supplement. Not to mention the Taurine holidays: He plays not only the role of the main actor, but he often becomes the hero…
The bull cohabits perfectly with the horse sharing its pastures. The horse championed, as white as the bull is black, is the other fetish and symbolic animal of that country. Traditionally mounted by the guardians, he is their loyal ally and the only means of locomotion to travel through marshy lands. Between man and him, the Camargue weaves a true love story. Since ancient times, he has always been protected by the Camchaais himself. The latter gave up a few standards and jails at the back, but he kept a live animal in a semi-wild state in a corner of its Palunes. Like the bull, the horse is an actor of all parties… He was even immortalized in a book and a cult film, white Crin.
Birds are special hosts of the Camargue. Among them, in the middle of the rods, the pink flaming flame rises majestically on its large legs which seem as fragile as a glass rod. The curiosity of its morphology and its extravagant color is astonishing. For this bird who lives in brackish waters, the Camargue is a bastion. This very sociable bird lives in a band. It breeds a colony composed of thousands of people where there is a real mess. As for the romantic parade of the pink flamingo, it's a very nice show: the male and the female swollen their nails wildly and form only one… In June, their nesting nesting on the Fangassier Pond was observed after the sea dike. In the evening, there is a superb ballet where men and females are intertwined, who turn around in turn, while the other is fishing.
In Camargue, the diversity of habitats -including marsh, ponds, rostrums, lawns, sansouae, roubins, etc. - favors the presence of a large number of species of birds, sedentary or migratory. In September, the «♀ trans-Saharans» arrived from Northern and Eastern Europe. Treasured herons, swallows, guerrillas and biscuits take a simple break and prepare their journey to Africa.
A shrine of gypsy traditions
Another emblematic place of the Camargue ↓: Holy Maries-de-la-Mer. The fortress church, a small jewel of Romanesque art, includes the statue of Sara, a black virgin, patron saint of gypsies. The legend says that, after Christ's death, Marie-Jacobé (the sister of the Virgin Virgin), Marie-Salomé (the mother of apostles Jean and Jacques) and their servant Sara, who was driven out of Palestine, acpoused in Camargue on a fortune keel. The city lives at the pace of three pilgrimages, but the most important remains the month of May. For gypsies from all over Europe, it is a great three-day celebration, characterized by faith and family reunion. The unique celebration is rhythmic with prayers, songs, dances and sound of guitars. The relics of the holy, escorted by guards and beautiful Arléans, are worn by four gypsies to the sea where they receive the blessing. On his way, hands tend to touch his beautiful golden coats and embroidered in order to protect himself. The next day, it is the turn of the holy Marie Jacobé and Marie-Salomé to be led to the sea to symbolize their arrival in Camargue. The other pilgrimages take place in October and Christmas. All these ceremonies remain the guardian of the gypsy tradition and attract many tourists. Who delight in an unforgettable camargumay painting.
Smart News
When is it? The beautiful days of spring, autumn and early winter must be favored.
Go there. By car, Paris-Arles: 588 ¾ km by the A ≈ 7. By plane, direction Marseille or Montpellier and by train, stop at Arles station.
VOYAGES SNCF - More information on the site
AIR FRANCE - More information on the site
Useful. To prepare his getaway best.
REGIONAL PACA TOURISM COMMITTEE - More information on the site
ARLES TOURISM OFFICE - More information on the site
OFFICE DE TOURISME DES SAINTES-MARIES-DE-LA-MER - More information on the site
