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Camargue France tourist information
Camargue, in southern Provence, is now a regional Natural Park, around the Rhone Delta.
The Camargue is a large, flat area (more than 900 square kilometres), hard to access, and full of marshes, fields, and lakes. It is also home to an astonishing range of wildlife, including semi-wild bulls and the renowned Camargue horses, and many hundreds of species of birds. Other wildlife includes wild boars, badgers, flamingos, tree frogs and water snakes.
The region is also reputed to have more than 40 species of mosquitoes, causing difficulties for visitors for most of the year except the winter.
You will see little from your car except for the occasional small group of camargue horses and some birds - to enjoy the region you need to leave the road and explore a little! There are various marked trails in the region, to help you best see the flora and fauna.
There are also nature safaris in jeeps that leave from Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer to explore the places that you might find it difficult to discover yourself.
To explore the Camargue, your best starting point is Arles, found at the northern edge of the region, or Les-Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, on the southern coast. Les Sainte Maries de la Mer is a pretty town, albeit rather expensive, with a good beach and you can hire bikes in the town - a good way to explore the Camargue. An alternative is Aigues-Mortes, to the east of the Natural Park.
A second alternative, if you want to combine the nature exploring with a seaside resort, is to stay at La Grande-Motte, along the coast to the west.
A particular architectural feature to look out for as you explore the region is the small simple whitewashed cottages of the guardians of the Camargue - the 'cowboys' who look after the horses and bulls.
A museum provides a useful introduction to the flora and fauna that you can see in the Camargue.
Note: the region is also a major French rice production area.
See also our guest article Visiting a Nature Park in the Camargue
Camargue: tourist information, map, travel plans and gites
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Visit Camargue, France
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P&V holidays, Camargue
[Camargue] Residence Club Le Domaine de l'Estajan: A residence with 8 pools, tennis courts, squash, golf, and horseriding; Children clubs during vacation; Activities included in our prices
[Camargue] Residence Club Les Mazets de Camargue: A residence with 8 pools, tennis courts, squash, golf, and horseriding; Paying children clubs during vacation; Activities included in our prices
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Map of Camargue, France |
Travel, hotels and holiday gites, Camargue
See the Visit Camargue section above for gites and hotels local to the area. For more general French travel options, see the Gites in France listings, or French holidays for other holidays, and Travel to France for ferries, Camargue car-hire, eurotunnel, cheap flights etc.
Places to visit - Camargue
- Aigues-Mortes Fortified town
- Arles Provencal town
- Roman Arles World Heritage Site
- Camargue Natural Park
- Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Camargue town
- Fontvieille Small Provence town
Any places listed above are within about 20-25 km (as the crow flies)
Information and photos of Camargue, France
This Camargue tourism guide, has information and holidays and photos when available. If you have any photos or relevant information please send them to us! Full credit will be given if they are used.
