The Camargue
The Camargue is a vast area of
marshlands formed by the delta of the Grand Rhone and the Petit Rhone
rivers as they near the Mediterranean Sea. It is a protected area, full
of wildlife and rich with beauty. It is thought that the name derives
from Caius Marius, a Roman general who owned large tracts of land here.
The grasslands and lagoons (étangs) are the home of the famous black
bulls, which roam at will and are tended by gardians, the French
equivalent of cowboys, who ride the unique Camargue horses, thought to be
the descendants of an ancient breed. These are brown or black at birth
but become white in their fourth year and, like the bulls, they also run
free.
The whole area is rich in wildlife, with beavers, badgers, wild boar and,
above all, birds. In all, 337 bird species can be found here, and the
best known are the flamingoes, the symbol of the region. The Etang
Fangassier is the only area in Europe where flamingoes breed in any
number, and here up to 13,000 pairs breed annually.
The northern marshes were drained some 60 years ago, and re-filled with
fresh water in order to grow rice. By the 1960s the Camargue produced 75
per cent of all the rice eaten in France. Other crops are also grown –
wheat, vines and fruit, and to the east, where the Grand Rhone meets the
sea, there is one of the largest salt works in the world. There are
walking trails along some of the dykes, or you can rent a canoe or a
horse for exploring.
You can get there by bus or
car from Arles and the best times to go are from March to October.
