Camargue is a land of men, horses and bulls
Camargue is synonymous with nature and wide open spaces. Flora and fauna have pride of place in this area which is still home to countless old ranches, tended by traditional horseback herdsman or "gardians". Camargue is truly a world apart: an, authentic and unique place modelled by the hand of man. Here, the word "freedom" takes on its full meaning, refl ected in the rebellious and untamed liberty of the wild horses and bulls roaming in the roadside fi elds and meadows.
Nestling between the arms of the Rhône river, Camargue covers an area of over 290 square miles. This unique land of sand, soil and water forms a triangle between Arles to the North, Les Saintes-Maries-de-la- Mer to the West and Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône to the East. Camargue is best explored by bike, on horseback or by canoe. This immense, primitive and salty zone, comprising alluviums, marshes, arid land and paddy fi elds, is a fascinating wilderness. A land of sun, wind and water, Camargue is truly a world apart and an extremely fragile ecological zone. Although much of the area is unfarmed, agriculture remains its foremost economic sector (AOC rice, wheat and wines, bull and horse breeding) along with salt production, fi shing, hunting and, of course, tourism.
 ©CRT PACA / M. Raynaud
Wide open spaces
This vast stretch of fl at and marshy land situated between Provence and Languedoc is one of Europe’s most beautiful natural sites, highly infl uenced by salty infl uxes from the Mediterranean Sea. Its untamed fl ora and fauna, protected the Camargue Regional Park, are exceptionally rich and varied, and include bulls, horses, pink fl amingos and many other wild bird species. Camargue has now become a mythical site, synonymous with freedom and wide open spaces.
It is a major nesting site for European migrating birds and home to several parks and reserves. Visitors can enjoy a large variety of museums and centres devoted to Camargue. The Camargue Nature Reserve, located at "Etang de Vaccarès", is the site of the "Capelière" exhibition centre and the starting point for a variety of educational itineraries. In addition to its conservation mission, the Camargue Regional Park features an information and exhibition centre located in Ginès. The "Musée Camarguais" museum, situated at the "Mas du Pont de Rousty" country house offers a fascinating insight into the area’s history and features a magnifi cent botanical footpath. The "Domaine de la Palissade", now owned by the Coastal Conservation Society, hosts guided tours for groups and individuals on the theme of fl ora and fauna. Salin-de-Giraud, adjacent to the superb town of Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, is one of the entrance gates to Camargue. Here, visitors can enjoy long stretches of beaches, boat trips, or canoeing on Petit Rhône river and its canals. Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is also a traditional place of pilgrimage for gipsies, with two major annual events: the May Pilgrimage and October Pilgrimage. Located further to the East, Salin-de-Giraud is home to the salt marshes and salt dunes of the local salt industry.
Just a short hop away, Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône features a fortifi ed tower and vast, wild sandy beaches, where you can embark on a boat tour or sample the pleasures of sand yachting...Also adjacent to the City of Arles is the impressive arid steppe of La Crau. This strange geological entity harbours a rich fl ora and fauna, and in particular a huge variety of bird species. Unique in France, this incredible desert-like stretch of land is irrigated by channels dug into the fi elds. Visitors can gain an insight into this fascinating ecosystem at the eco-museum in Saint-Martin de Crau.
A land apart
Camargue is a land of men, horses and bulls; an independent, wild, rustic and authentic territory. The Camargue horse - the faithful companion of the local "manadiers" (breeders) and "gardians" (herdsmen), takes part in all local heritage events and is an inseparable part of life in Camargue. Although bullfi ghting is an extremely ancient Mediterranean tradition, the people of Camargue particularly favour what they refer to as "Jeux Taurins" ("bull games", in which the bull is unhurt), such as the "Course Camarguaise" or Rosette Race. This time-honoured tradition fi rst appeared around the 16th century, as a challenge for farmers wishing to measure their strength against that of the bull.
Men in white costumes - the "raseteurs" - try to remove a rosette attached to the bull’s head, between its horns. They take their name from the "razet", the graceful, arc-shaped movement they make when sporting with the bull. They need all the style, suppleness and daring they can muster to grab the prize - at the exact moment when man and beast come into contact. Offi cially recognized as a sport in 1975, "Courses Camarguaises" are held throughout Camargue from March to October and attract thousands of spectators. Other traditional celebrations include "abrivados", when bulls are herded through village streets by the horseback "gardians", and "ferrades" when the young bulls are branded.
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