Camargue Regional Natural Park

The Camargue is the delta of the Rhône, a flat, watery landscape of lagoons, marshes, reedbeds and salt flats that fills the triangle between the two arms of the river, the Petit Rhône and the Grand Rhône, south of Arles. The regional natural park, created in 1970, covers about 100,000 hectares of this region, and much of it lies only a metre or two above sea level, so the land seems to merge with the sky. It is also a UNESCO biosphere reserve, and it is one of the most important wetlands in Europe. The Étang de Vaccarès, a large shallow lagoon in the middle, is the core of the nature reserve, with the sea to the south.

The wildlife is the main attraction. The Camargue is best known for its flamingos, which breed here in large colonies and feed on the shallow lagoons, giving the water a pink hue when they gather in numbers. More than three hundred species of birds have been recorded, including herons, egrets, avocets, bee-eaters and many waders and ducks, and the area is on migration routes between Europe and Africa. The place is also home to two famous animals that are raised in the traditional way. The small white Camargue horses, which are born dark and turn white as they grow, run half-wild in herds, and the black Camargue bulls are raised for the local sport of the course camarguaise, in which athletes try to take rosettes from the horns of the animals, without harming them. The herdsmen, called gardians, ride the horses and wear a distinctive costume.

The landscape has been shaped by people as well as nature. Salt has been made on the coast for centuries, and at Salin-de-Giraud and near Aigues-Mortes large salt pans appear as pink and white plains, with mountains of salt piled up. Rice fields, vineyards on sandy soils and pastures also cover large areas. The sansouire, the salt steppe of low glasswort plants, is typical of the drier ground.

The park offers many ways of seeing the area. Observation towers and marked nature trails give views over the lagoons, and the Parc ornithologique du Pont de Gau, near Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, is a good place to see flamingos at close range. Horseback rides and boat trips are available, and cycling is popular on the flat roads. The small town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer on the coast holds a famous pilgrimage each May, which draws the Romani community from across Europe. Spring and autumn are the best seasons, since summer can be hot and the mosquitoes are numerous, so bring repellent and light clothing.

Arles, with its Roman monuments, the Musée Réattu and the Fondation Van Gogh, makes a good base. The park suits birdwatchers, photographers and anyone who enjoys wide open landscapes.