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Majestic Camargue
Published by Lisa Rigdon, Writer
Country: France 
The Experience
The majesty of the Wild West meets the exotic flavor of the savanna wetlands here in the Rhône Delta region of southern France. Around 350,000 acres in size, the Camargue is a fascinating region of different topographic settings blended beautifully into one relaxing locale with plenty to see and experience.
In this province you will find salty marsh lands, picturesque pastures, old world towns, and some of the loveliest beaches in all of France. Exploring the region can be done in several ways, and the most preferred is by horseback. Visitors can purchase guided tours by horseback, bicycle, motorbike, and even take guided walking tours throughout the region. All guests are welcome to go off and explore the landscape on their own. In fact, 12 miles of road within the Camargue are completely blocked from motorists, allowing for pedestrians and those traveling by horseback to have free reign.
Traveling inside of the Camargue Regional Park will allow guests to view breathtaking images of various species of migrating birds, especially pink flamingos! White horses and large bulls romp in the pasture lands for all to see. Exploring the local towns of the region, Arles, Les Saintes Maries de la Mer, and Salins de Giraud, will give many travelers that sense of old world charm without the hustle and bustle of most European cities. Fantastic buildings and Chateaus create a sense of being back in time for travelers. Locals enjoy dressing up in traditional outfits to entertain their visitors, and are more than happy to put on a show. Many festivals and gatherings are celebrated throughout the year, so guests who plan accordingly will have the chance of a lifetime to experience the local flavor.
In this province you will find salty marsh lands, picturesque pastures, old world towns, and some of the loveliest beaches in all of France. Exploring the region can be done in several ways, and the most preferred is by horseback. Visitors can purchase guided tours by horseback, bicycle, motorbike, and even take guided walking tours throughout the region. All guests are welcome to go off and explore the landscape on their own. In fact, 12 miles of road within the Camargue are completely blocked from motorists, allowing for pedestrians and those traveling by horseback to have free reign.
Traveling inside of the Camargue Regional Park will allow guests to view breathtaking images of various species of migrating birds, especially pink flamingos! White horses and large bulls romp in the pasture lands for all to see. Exploring the local towns of the region, Arles, Les Saintes Maries de la Mer, and Salins de Giraud, will give many travelers that sense of old world charm without the hustle and bustle of most European cities. Fantastic buildings and Chateaus create a sense of being back in time for travelers. Locals enjoy dressing up in traditional outfits to entertain their visitors, and are more than happy to put on a show. Many festivals and gatherings are celebrated throughout the year, so guests who plan accordingly will have the chance of a lifetime to experience the local flavor.
When to Go to Camargue
The peak season for the Camargue is during the summer months, and can get rather busy towards the middle of July through the end of August. Weather during the summer months can be around 85°, but can go into the mid-90s. Unlike other parts of France, the region remains mostly sunny with an average of 30-50 days of rain fall throughout the year, which occurs predominantly in the spring. Be sure to bring plenty of sun block as you enjoy the weather, and don't forget the mosquito repellent while exploring the marshes and wetlands.
Traveling to the region is fastest by train, especially since travelers can take a direct high-speed train from Paris to Arles in just about four hours. Many travelers also drive through France southward toward Camargue, but those unfamiliar to the region should be careful when planning their route. Those who choose to drive should also remember how heavy traffic will be in the later summer months when holiday travelers clog up the roadways.
All throughout the region visitors will find quaint bed-and-breakfasts, hotels, ranches, and even camping facilities. It is advised to reserve your preferred location at least 4-6 months in advance due to the popularity of the region. Arles is the largest city in Camargue, and therefore has the most accommodations. If you're looking for a more laid-back vacation, however, you may wish to stay in one of the smaller cities within the province.
Traveling to the region is fastest by train, especially since travelers can take a direct high-speed train from Paris to Arles in just about four hours. Many travelers also drive through France southward toward Camargue, but those unfamiliar to the region should be careful when planning their route. Those who choose to drive should also remember how heavy traffic will be in the later summer months when holiday travelers clog up the roadways.
All throughout the region visitors will find quaint bed-and-breakfasts, hotels, ranches, and even camping facilities. It is advised to reserve your preferred location at least 4-6 months in advance due to the popularity of the region. Arles is the largest city in Camargue, and therefore has the most accommodations. If you're looking for a more laid-back vacation, however, you may wish to stay in one of the smaller cities within the province.
Odds n' Ends
This picturesque region has inspired artists, such as Van Gogh, to create beautiful images that have been displayed in several museums. Have some fun and be an artist with your camera. Take gorgeous pictures of the landscape and all the beauty that is within the Camargue. If you are feeling truly artistic, perhaps you can channel your inner-Van Gogh and paint the beauty that you see during your vacation.
Want a Guide?
- Provence Explorer - GAPAdventures.com
- Provence is legendary: exquisite cuisine, world-renowned wines, medieval palaces, picturesque villages flanked by fields of lavender. See for yourself what the fuss is all about.
Places to Stay Nearby
Search over 900,000 global hotel deals from over 30 merchants. Book via Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and the websites of popular hotel chains.
The Les Rizieres is located in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer making it one of the best hotels to stay at while in town.All hotel's guestrooms have all the ... 6 miles away
$74 EUR+
The Mangio Fango Hotel is perfectly located for both business and leisure guests to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.The Mangio Fango Hotel boasts a convenient location with modern amenities ... 6 miles away
$95 EUR+
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More Experiences Nearby
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While You're There - Tours and Trips Nearby
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2 to 4 people5 to 6 peopleWhen making a booking, you will need to advise your flight details and your Avignon hotel details. Your transfer ...21.97 miles away via Nimes.
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Books and DVDs
- France Travel Guide - LonelyPlanet.com
- Our latest guide to France will have you winding through the fairytale Loire Valley, skiing in Chamonix and blissing out on mind-blowing cuisine.
- Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips (Hardcover)
- No one knows the world like National Geographic—and in this lavish volume, we reveal our picks for the world's most fabulous journeys, along with helpful information for readers who want to try them out.
Elsewhere on the Web
- The Camargue - MSN.ca
- France’s brine ponds are one of the few habitats for the greater flamingo in Europe (and for some of the most voracious mosquitoes in France), and are also home to wild bulls and white horses.
- Camargue Regional Nature Parks - Parc-Camargue.fr
- The Camargue is home to one of France's 44 Regional Nature Parks, whose role is to act as the guardians of their exceptional heritage, while at the same time reconciling environmental considerations with local development issues.
- Camargue - Beyond.fr
- The Camargue is like its own little country. Once you're a few minutes south of Arles, you enter the atmosphere of the area, with its series of long, level roads criss-crossing the marshes and farmlands.
- Camargue - Wikipedia.org
- The Camargue (Occitan: Camarga in classical norm or Camargo in Mistralian norm) is located south of Arles, France, between the Mediterranean Sea and the two arms of the River Rhône delta.
Media References
- A French Playground For Fall - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
- he broad, flat beaches of France's new Mediterranean resorts sparkle along a nearly continuous strip of sand stretching west from the Rhone and curving down toward the Pyrenees.
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