What to See in Camargue: Places to Visit and Beaches

A land bordered by rivers, lakes, marshes, and the sea, completely surrounded by water, resembling an island.

Camargue is the wetland area south of Arles, in France, between the Mediterranean Sea and the two branches of the Rhône Delta, the Grand Rhône and the Petit Rhône.

It is an area of over 930 km² that belongs to the Bouches-du-Rhône department, boasting the largest river delta in Western Europe.

A plain predominantly occupied by water and large stretches of sand, populated by pink flamingos, bulls, and wild white horses.

ALSO SEE: THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

Fishing villages and rural hamlets keep alive ancient traditions and folkloric festivals.

Camargue reflects another side of Provence, beyond the renowned lavender routes and the polished French Riviera.

It has the allure of a free and wild land, still authentic, to be discovered slowly, on foot, by bike, or on horseback. A universe of peace, poetry, light, and water.

The city of art and history at the gates of Camargue. Nestled on the banks of the Rhône, Arles seems to rest under the Mediterranean sun, with more than 2500 years of history.

The largest municipality in metropolitan France and the most populated in Camargue has origins dating back to 550 BC. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, the city boasts over 100 monuments in the historical center.

Among these, do not miss the Roman amphitheater, now simply called the Arles Arena. Built at the end of the 1st century AD, it is the largest Roman amphitheater in Gaul and one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in Provence.

Also, see the Cryptoporticus, the Roman baths of Constantine, the remains of the Roman circus, the cloister, and the Saint-Trophime portal, and the Alyscamps, to mention only the most important.

But Arles is also the city where Vincent Van Gogh arrived in February 1888, searching for light. Be sure to visit the Fondation Vincent Van Gogh, which pays homage to his work by dialoguing with contemporary art.

Then retrace the walking path through the locations that inspired the most famous canvases of the Dutch painter: from the Place du Forum captured in Le café le soir, to the quay of the Rhône where he painted La nuit étoilée, up to the Place Lamartine where La maison jaune was located. It is also worth visiting the Departmental Museum of Ancient Arles, located in a modern building on the banks of the Rhône, designed by Henri Ciriani.

2 km from Arles lies the Montmajour Abbey, a UNESCO heritage site, built in the 12th century on a rocky islet.

It is an extraordinary work of Romanesque, Gothic, and classical architecture. Two monastic complexes built from the 11th to the 18th century make up the Montmajour Abbey, the heart of a community of Benedictine monks.

Today, during the summer, the abbey hosts exhibitions as part of the Arles Photography Festival.

Located in the Gard department is the town of Saint-Gilles, 19 km from Nîmes and 18 km from Arles, between Languedoc and Provence, the Nîmes Coast and Camargue.

One of the largest municipalities in the department, Saint-Gilles is a town with ancient origins. Already occupied in Roman times, in the late 7th century, the hermit Gilles founded a church and a Benedictine monastery.

In the 9th century, the miracles performed by Saint Gilles made the city an important pilgrimage site on the Camino de Santiago. But the city's history was tumultuous, suffering from the crusade against the Albigensians, the devastations of the religious wars, and the revolution.

Today, it is worth visiting for its rich heritage, of which the abbey church is undoubtedly the most interesting site.

A masterpiece of Romanesque art, the upper church dating from the 12th century with its three monumental doors is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The lower church or crypt, equally beautiful, dates to the 11th century and contains the tomb of Saint Gilles.

Also worth a visit are the remains of the cloister, the Protestant temple from the late 19th century in neo-Gothic style, and the 12th-century Romanesque house that hosts a museum. In the surroundings of Saint-Gilles is the Espeyran castle, 5 km away.

Once a residence of the abbots, the castle was remodeled in the 19th century. Today, it houses period furniture, various carriages in the stable, and a site for the preservation of microfilms and digital images.

Saint Gilles is also a producer of AOC Costière-de-Nîmes wines, boasting about twenty producers and a wine cooperative. Its wines were highly regarded by the popes, competing in the Middle Ages with those from Beaune.

The village of Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, more commonly known as "Les Saintes", overlooks the sea in the heart of Camargue.

A renowned seaside resort, Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is particularly lively in summer. But despite tourism, the village has preserved its authentic charm and traditions. In winter, it has a completely different atmosphere on the long sandy and deserted beaches, among surf lovers and the cries of seagulls. The origins of the town are curious.

According to legend, around 45 AD, after sailing across the Mediterranean, Mary Magdalene, Mary Salome, and Mary Jacobé, accompanied by Martha and Lazarus the "risen one", landed in this part of the Rhône delta.

There, it is said that Sarah the Black welcomed them and became their servant. They built a small oratory dedicated to the Virgin before Mary Magdalene went to Sainte-Baume, Martha to Tarascon, and Lazarus became the first bishop of Marseille.

Marie Salome, Marie Jacobé, and Sarah remained in the area, and the place where they were buried, Saintes-Maries, became an important place of worship and pilgrimage, as well as a stop on the Camino de Santiago.

Therefore, visit the Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer church, built in the 9th century and restored by the monks of Montmajour in the 12th and 14th centuries to incorporate the city's fortifications.

The tower offers beautiful views of the city and the Camargue. The crypt is dedicated to Sarah, and every year, gypsies from all over Europe honor the statue of their patroness, the Black Virgin, with a grand procession and sea blessing, accompanied by music and dances.

Twice a year, indeed, at the end of May and at the end of October, the church of Saintes Maries de la Mer is a destination for gypsy pilgrimages.

If you want to delve deeper into this story, visit the Museum and the House of the Marquis de Baroncelli, housed in the 19th-century town hall, which narrates the agro-pastoral traditions of Camargue and the history of the municipality. Additionally, Saintes Maries de la Mer also has its arenas, built near the beach in the early 1930s, that host bullfights, competitions, and equestrian shows.

Finally, Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer boasts a dozen kilometers of beaches, perfect for beautiful horseback rides or engaging in water activities such as kite surfing and windsurfing. Along the promenade, you will see the cabanes des Launes, typical Camargue huts with reed roofs. The surrounding marshes are also home to wonderful flamingos, so don't forget your camera.

In the vicinity of Saintes-Maries de la Mer, don't miss out on Château d'Avignon, which offers guided tours and hosts various events.

A charming seaside resort in Camargue, Le Grau-du-Roi captivates with its Provençal market, small restaurants, fishing port, 18 km of sandy beaches, and pretty houses in wild nature.

It has a relatively recent history compared to other cities in Camargue. At the end of the 16th century, a stream of the Rhône opened a breach (called grau) in the coast.

This channel was initially named "Grau Henry", then "Grau-du-Roi" because Henry IV had it modified, constructing two stone jetties to protect it from silting. It wasn't until the 18th century that the canal was opened (the only maritime outlet of Gard) to Aigues-Mortes. The city of Grau-du-Roi developed around this canal.

Italian immigrants settled there in the 19th century, and the main activity is fishing. Since then, the city has become France's second fishing port in the Mediterranean. In the old port, you can still see the dance of the fishing boats among the turning bridge, the docks scattered with nets and lined with restaurants, and the picturesque facades.

Tourism only began to develop at the end of the 19th century. The Villa Parris near the lighthouse remains a beautiful example of the Belle Époque.

Note the house known as the Dolphin in front of the church. The construction of Port-Camargue, reclaimed from the sea between 1967 and 1985, gave Grau-du-Roi a marina and a tourist port, today the largest in Europe.

The municipality is entirely surrounded by water, with its four large beaches on the Mediterranean, the wild Espiguette Point, the Vidourle, and the entire complex of ponds, canals, salt flats, and surrounding marshes. Do not forget to visit the Palais de la Mer, which houses a small sea museum and the Seaquarium, where you can see 2000 Mediterranean and tropical fish.

Just 7 km from Le Grau-du-Roi is Aigues-Mortes, the medieval town surrounded by ponds and marshes. You can also reach it by bicycle, following the maritime canal.

Not far from the sea, Aigues-Mortes is a fortified town immersed in one of the most beautiful natural sites in Camargue.

Originally a small fishing village and salt gatherers, in a sandy gulf, surrounded by marshes leading to the Mediterranean Sea and bathed in a malarial climate. In medieval times it was protected by imposing fortifications.

The city, later marked by the Crusades and the Templars, then by the wars of religion, is now a pleasant tourist town.

Stroll through the old town to discover its history and culture. The ramparts, gates, and towers, with evocative names, date back to the era of Louis IX, who began constructing the Tower of Constanza on the remains of the tower of Matafère, a work of Charlemagne. Visit the Tour Carbonnière, in the midst of the marshes and not far from the town of Saint-Laurent d'Aigouze, which served as an outpost for the city walls and helped protect the town from land invasions.

Then there is the chapel of the Grey Penitents with the stuccos of Jean Sabatier and the chapel of the White Penitents, which houses a magnificent monumental fresco representing the Holy Spirit, painted in the early 19th century by Xavier Sigalon. The little marina is a picturesque stop, connected to the sea by Grau-du-Roi and to Sète by the Rhône canal.

Don't miss, to the south of the city, the Salins du Midi d'Aigues-Mortes, an exceptional area of 9000 hectares where you can discover salt production and the paradise of thousands of birds.

The salt flats produce 500,000 tons of salt each year, making it a global reference. Visit the salt museum to learn more about one of the main activities of the Camargue since antiquity. The salt flats are now open to the public and offer tours by train, electric car, or mountain bike.

At the gates of Camargue, between the Alpilles chain and the Crau plain, is the last protected steppe in Europe and the seventh-largest municipality in France.

Saint Martin de Crau is a rural city that has managed to preserve the authenticity of Provençal villages. In the center of the city, visit the Ecomuseum of Crau, housed in an old barn, which will let you discover the territory.

The Rétromusée, a private collection of the Avis family, allows you to learn about the tools and trades of the past. It is located near the church, and entry is free all year round. For a breath of fresh air, the "Garden of Gaston" Arboretum spans over 4 hectares and offers the ideal setting for walks and relaxation.

The town is also surrounded by a wonderful Provençal landscape. To the south is the dry Crau and the Coussouls (extensive pastures), a pebble desert deposited by the Durance in its ancient delta. In 2001, over 7000 hectares of Coussouls de Crau were designated as a nature reserve. After obtaining a mandatory pass from the Maison de la Crau, visitors can take the "Interpretive Trail of the Draille des Coussouls", a nearly 5 km path in a protected environment. In the center lies the wet Crau and its landscapes of meadows, marshes, and hedges at the gates of the Alpilles.

In addition to its internationally famous hay, these meadows provide abundant grazing for sheep during the winter. Furthermore, Saint Martin de Crau is the leading municipality in France for Merino sheep farming and the top producer of peaches in France. With 90% of its territory protected environmentally, Saint Martin de Crau is a mecca for green tourism.

The island of Camargue is a vast plain bounded by the two branches of the Rhône and the Mediterranean Sea.

Between the Petite Camargue to the west and La Crau to the east, no point in the delta exceeds 15 feet in elevation.

Over the centuries, the river, sea, and human action have created a mosaic of exceptionally rich landscapes. In the northern area, humans have developed agricultural activities, a dam, vineyards, and intensive rice cultivation.

But to discover the authentic Camargue, you must head south, among ponds and marshes. Much of the territory is part of the Camargue Regional Natural Park, created in 1970 to protect the ecosystems and animal and plant species.

It extends over 86,300 acres in the municipalities of Arles and Saintes-Maries de la Mer. The facilities set up for visitors allow them to discover the fauna and flora of Camargue. The park is also a paradise for birdwatching.

Over 300 bird species inhabit this area. Camargue is one of the main migratory bird meeting points in Europe. Among these vast stretches of water, you will see, therefore, pink flamingos, white horses, and Camargue bulls.

The Pont de Gau ornithological park is located about 5 km from Saintes-Maries de la Mer.

Founded in 1949 by André Lamouroux, this park has 60 acres of trails to discover the fauna and flora of Camargue, which can be explored freely or with a guide.

The observation towers will allow you to admire up close the beautiful birds of the park, including pink flamingos. The elegant waders are numerous in Camargue, with several hundred counted in winter and several thousand in summer. The park has also hosted a pair of storks for several years.

Less than an hour from Avignon, Marseille, Nîmes, and Montpellier lies the Marais du Vigueirat nature reserve, which covers 1200 acres in Eastern Camargue, between the Grand Rhône and the steppe plain of Crau.

The site includes charming natural environments representative of Camargue and the wet Crau, where more than 2000 species of plants and animals have been identified, and over 300 species of birds, which comprises more than 60% of the French avifauna, including herons, pink flamingos, storks, European bee-eaters, raptors, and ducks.

The reserve also hosts breed bulls and horses and includes the largest protected reedbed in Camargue. It is the ideal place to discover on horseback.

Sandy dunes, long stretches of light sand, and shallow waters. The beaches of Camargue are among the most beautiful and wild in all of France. Here are the most beautiful to discover.

Near the village of Salin-de-Giraud, Piémanson Beach is one of the wildest and most isolated in the area and offers kilometers of fine sand, perfect for little ones. It is the most popular beach among campers.

This remote beach in Arles is accessible only via a dirt road and is perfect for water sports enthusiasts. A true paradise for those seeking a quiet place to go to the beach.

Not too far from Le Grau-du-Roi, Espiguette is an incredible beach featuring dunes of sand that stretch for miles. It is well-equipped with parking areas and services.

The town's beach is more accessible and equipped than the others, offering various activities and services, including sunbed rentals, bars, and restaurants.

The traditional recipes of Camargue bring to the table the products of this rich land. Take note of these dishes: Camargue salad, anchoïade (anchovy sauce), mussels cooked with herbs, baked eel, artichoke barbouillade, gratin eggplants, but also the emblematic gardiane de toro (bull meat stewed with red wine), rouille (Provençal mayonnaise), brandade de morue, goat milk cheeses like Pélardon.

The region is also renowned for its fleur de sel from Camargue, the oil from the nearby Baux valley, oysters and mussels from Thau and Bouzigues, and the Camargue rice which counts over thirty different varieties. A Provençal specialty not to be missed is bouillabaisse, a fish soup served with garlic croutons, rouille, and potatoes. Pair it with vin des Sables and the wines from the Rhône and Languedoc valleys.

The fastest way to get around in Camargue is by car, but for those who want to fully breathe in the atmosphere of this wild land, it is ideal to explore it on foot, by bike, or on the famous white horses of Camargue. Lastly, don't miss a cruise along the Canal du Rhône.

The best time to visit Camargue is definitely late spring when the weather is pleasant but not oppressive like in summer.

Temperatures are indeed very high in summer, peaking at 86°F and humidity levels reaching even 100%. The region is also characterized by the constant presence of the Mistral, the wind that blows from the northwest, particularly intense from March to May.

If you wish to visit Camargue during traditional festivities, remember that around the end of May, the feast of Saint Sara the Black, patron saint of the gypsies, is celebrated in Saintes-Maries de la Mer. During this time, the Easter Feria opens, during which non-violent bullfights take place in the bullrings of Camargue, such as in Arles, and equestrian shows on the streets of the towns.

Places to Visit in Camargue