Top 13 Natural Monuments in Camargue

Years ago I spent a lovely holiday here in Saint Marie de la Mer, if not the most lovely holiday in my life. I've been to Provence several times, visited La Grande Motte and the Pont du Gard, the Arena of Nimes, Avignon, Marseille and much more, it is beautiful here on the Mediterranean, have a nice holiday everyone. 🙋👍

THE FLAMINGO The pink flamingo is one of the 340 species of birds Fauna of the Camargue. Probably the most fascinating bird. This largest colony of pink flamingos in the western Mediterranean has been breeding on a breeding island since the beginning of the 1970s in the Camargue. Scientists and nature lovers have created an extensive program to protect the flamingo and also to provide it with a comfortable habitat. The place where the flamingos nest was owned by the Compagnie des Salins du Midi until the end of 2008. Today this extraordinary area belongs to the Conservatoire du Littoral. The greatest vigilance is required to protect the reproduction, because the colony in the delta is exceptional and of worldwide notoriety (10 to 15,000 pairs annually). In order to observe the birds during their wedding parades, it is essential to follow the instructions of the staff of the nature park and the bird protection organization. In order not to disturb the peace of these very shy birds, it is not possible to visit the breeding island itself. Special tours of this area, unique in France, are offered from April to the end of September.

This vast natural environment, located southeast of the Vaccarès site. They extend over more than 6,500 ha and include partly aquatic and terrestrial environments dominated by fresh water along the old arm of the Rhône, and partly extensive lagoon and dune complexes near the Mediterranean Sea. The successive advancement of the coastlines has created huge ranges of dune ridges on this site, which have gradually isolated some of the ponds and Etangs. Apart from the belts of dunes that cover more than 300 ha, the height of the Camargue is very often close to or below sea level. The vast areas without emerging vegetation, consisting of mud flats, etangs and brackish pools and more or less temporarily salted, cover more than 80% of the Camargue.

Above all, the way higher through the salt pans is worth the trip - due to the rather long route, it is more likely to be by car than on foot, but there is enough space here to stretch your feet.

The beach Plage de Piemanson should be familiar to most fans of the south of France. Until 2015, wild camping was tolerated there directly on the beach. Since the beach now looked like a shabby, overcrowded and, above all, full of garbage, the main municipality of Arles took action and had the beach cleared. After consultation with the municipality of Salin-De-Giraud, the beach was then released again as a parking area at least between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The business people reportedly had around 60% sales losses in the months of May to September 2015 compared to 2016. Salin-De-Giraud created a larger free accommodation area and a supply / disposal station.

The Camargue is home to the fleur de sel, the fine, mineral-rich and crispy salt crystals that every gourmet is familiar with. Here the salt is not produced industrially, but with the help of the sea and the sun, just like 2,000 years ago. An impressive craft!

Flooded with sea water areas have here all summer time to dry out again.

This is a passage with good chances to see the famous wild horses. Wikipedia gives a definition: The Camargue is a breed of small saddle horse with a gray coat, native to the region of the same name, south of France in the Rhone delta, the departments of Gard and Bouches-du-Rhone. This horse lives traditionally in freedom in its original swamps and its genealogy remains mysterious, although it is considered as one of the oldest races of the world. Camargue foals are born with a dark robe and become lighter as they age, until they become almost white. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camargue_(cheval)