Park rules You are in a Regional nature park Professionals commit to sustainable tourism Remove your trash ! in the Camargue with the Respect the dunes. « Valeurs Parc naturel The Camargue is a large wetland in the Rhône delta. It is exceptionally diverse in its flora and fauna, Stay on the trail, do not enter private property. regional » brand its scenery and the culture of Provençe in all its historical grandeur. No fires or barbecues. Whether you are interested in nature or in the traditions of the Camargue, we can give you the No loud noises. Owned by the Ministry of the Environment, information you need to appreciate the park, bearing in mind its vulnerability. « Valeurs Parc naturel regional » is a brand to help Park only in designated areas. foster sustainable development in local areas. Visiting museums or natural features, between the sea and the pools, on foot or on horseback, Dogs must remain leached. It promotes local products and human-scale tourist businesses, local economy players who respect the following the tourist routes or relaxing on the beach - you can organise your visit according to your In summer time, don’t forget sunscreen, specific features of the area and its environment. preferences, while also respecting the quality of your surroundings. water and mosquito repellent. SITE TO VISIT ACCOMMODATION

1 Musée de 25 Bergerie d’Alivon la Camargue www.bergeriealivon.com Freshwater marshes +33 (0)6 12 62 04 57 Cultivated land and reed beds 2 Domaine de To 26 Find the details of la Palissade Chambres d’hôtes 20% of the Camargue is used to grow rice. To Beaucaire Alpilles Regional These are common in the upper Camargue and on the banks the sites on the back Mas de Bouvet The water taken from the Rhône for this Nîmes of the Rhône. 5 Parc ornithologique www.mas-de-bouvet.com purpose desalinates the soil to a certain Nature Park Water plants such as bullrushes, cane and reeds are abundant du Pont de Gau +33 (0)6 12 13 59 02 depth, and the rice fields are also home to in the marshes, which are used for hunting and, in summer, NORTH To Avignon 6 Bureau des Guides 27 Gites Mas de la Vigne pasturage. They provide shelter for nesting and wintering nesting birds such as the heron. They are Naturalistes www.masdelavigne.com flooded in April and allowed to dry out in birds. Reeds (« sagno », in Provençal) are cut in winter by +33 (0)6 19 32 62 42 September for the harvest. Petit Rhôn the « sagneurs ». They are used as a roofing material. 7 Marais du Vigueirat e Arles 28 Hôtel****-restaurant Saint-Gilles D572n 8 Maison du riz Mas de Calabrun 10 www.mas-de-calabrun.fr Maison du cheval +33 (0)4 90 97 82 21 Gimeaux Camargue To The salt plains (« sansouires ») 29 Chambres d’hôtes, D6572 Saliers Van Gogh Bridge Aix-en-Provence and meadowlands HORSE TREKKING gîtes, aire de camping car D37 0 N113 Marseille (by reservation) 21 D57 Manade des Baumelles Salt plains are a feature of the lower Camargue. Their www.manadedesbaumelles.fr 1 salt content is so high that only a few plant species such 13 Bergerie d’Alivon +33 (0)6 34 43 58 32 D36 as glasswort, saltwort, obione and statice can survive www.bergeriealivon.com 30 Gîte Mas Farola 31 there. They are prone to periodic flooding, and in sum- +33 (0)6 03 54 10 94 8 Albaron Gageron www.masfarola.camargue.fr mer are marked by white traces due to the presence 14 Marais du Vigueirat - +33 (0)6 20 68 14 07 To 27 24 of salt. Meadowland occupies only small, fragmented Manade Coule Le Paty-de- 31 Nîmes areas in which the effects of salt are less obvious. www.manadecoule.com Hôtel**-restaurant la-Trinité 23 Le Flamant rose 26 32 +33 (0)4 90 98 70 91 Villeneuve Mas-Thibert 15 www.leflamantrose.com Mas Saint-Germain +33 (0)4 90 97 10 18 13 25 s D37 D570 e www.massaintgermain.com D5 rg 17 22 15 33 8 o G N56 +33 (0)6 16 92 34 98 32 Chambres d’hôtes g ra 8 5 18 n To s d Mas de la Forge e R 16 h Martigues Mas de la Grenouillère d D36b ô 40 www.masdelaforge.fr 10 e n The salt ponds Aigues- D38c l www.hotel-equitation-saintes-maries.fr l Étang du Vaccarès e i Marseille +33 (0)4 90 97 00 76 a r +33 (0)6 80 25 68 58 Mortes D 7 14 These are to be found along the sea. In reality Camargue National Nature Reserve 3 33 Le Grau-du-Roi 20 they are lagoons that have been adapted to 17 Manade de Méjanes Gîtes Mas Saint-Germain Cabanes- Pioch-Badet www.massaintgermain.com Le Sambuc maximise their salt concentration. www.mejanes-camargue.fr de-Cambon +33 (0)4 90 97 10 10 +33 (0)4 90 97 00 60 R The salt ponds are extensive and rich in inverte- o +33 (0)4 90 97 10 62 29 u brates, which makes them an important source 34 Hôtel*** Pin Fourcat te d e of food for birds, and in particular the flamingos, Mas de la Grenouillère C Les Impériaux BULL HERDING 28 a www.hotel-equitation-saintes-maries.fr D c which spend most of their time there. (by reservation) 38 ha +33 (0)6 80 25 68 58 re 5 l The Espiguette D35 18 Manade Blanc 35 Hôtel*** La Palunette 30 D5 www.manade-blanc.fr Lighthouse Bac du Sauvage 70 19 37 www.palunette.fr Phare de +33 (0)6 87 01 43 08 16 14 +33 (0)4 28 31 31 45 la Gacholle 19 34 Manade Jacques Bon 36 Résidence Mas du Tadorne 36 D36b 4 D3 www.masdepeint.com www.masdutadorne.com D 6 35 igue à +33 (0)4 90 97 28 50 +33 (0)4 90 96 33 52 la m er 9 20 Manade Cavallini +33 (0)6 15 73 77 52 www.masdepioch.com 37 Hôtel*****-restaurant Les Saintes-Maries- +33 (0)4 90 97 50 06 Mas de Peint Be 21 Manade Mailhan www.masdepeint.com NATURAL AND CULTURAL a D36c de-la-Mer u www.manadejacquesmailhan.fr +33 (0)4 90 97 20 62 du 6 HERITAGE SITES (presented overleaf) c +33 (0)6 15 09 09 11 38 B Barcarin ferry Chambres d’hôtes e 39 a 22 Manade de Méjanes et gîtes*** Maebrilu 1 1,8 km c D Musée de la Camargue Distance h igue 38 www.mejanes-camargue.fr Camargue Provence à la mer Port-Saint-Louis-Port-Saint-Louis- +33 (0)4 90 97 10 10 http://maebrilu-camargue.fr 2 Domaine de la Palissade du-Rhône +33 (0)4 90 97 10 62 +33 (0)6 23 49 60 22 Salin-de-Giraud 11 12 3 Réserve naturelle nationale de Camargue (La Capelière) WINE MAKERS 39 Chambres d’hôtes Un nid en Camargue 4 Phare de la Gacholle 23 Domaine de Beaujeu www.gites-de-france.com www.domainedebeaujeu.fr +33 (0)6 24 00 34 56 The ponds and lagoons The BeauducBeauduc +33 (0)6 24 00 34 57 5 Parc ornithologique du Pont de Gau Find the details of +33 (0)9 64 18 90 33 the sites on the back LighthousLighthousee End of 40 The shallow ponds of the lower Camargue are 2 ViaRhônaViaRhôna 24 Mas de Valériole GÎte de l’Isle Saint-Pierre separated from the sea by a sandbar. They are more 6 Étang du Fangassier The Faraman www.masdevaleriole.com www.islesaintpierre.fr or less salty, and communicate with the sea via sluice Lighthouse h +33 (0)4 90 97 10 41 +33 (0)4 90 98 70 30 gates. They provide a refuge for birds and fish, and 7 Marais du Vigueirat ac Be play a major role in water management. n 8 Maison du riz o DISTANCES BETWEEN THE MAIN TOWNS : The beaches and dunes lé Tourist path (by bike / by car) o 9 p Aigues-Mortes - Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer 30 km 30’ 1h34 Château de Tourvieille - Tour de Tampan The Camargue has some 50 km of beaches. Out- a Pi N Aigues-Mortes - Arles 47 km 45’ 4h10 (par la ViaRhôna) Discovery route for pedestrians and cyclists émans 10 Maison du cheval Camargue side the perimeter of the protective dykes - and thus (closed to cars) on B Arles - Salin-de-Giraud 38 km 37’ 1h51 subject to the caprices of the sea - the coastline is in ea Cycle path ViaRhôna Viewpoint ch Arles - Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer 37 km 35’ 1h50 11 Point de vue du sel a permanent state of change. The dunes are inhabited Arles - Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône 40 km 40’ 3h26 (par la ViaRhôna) by spectacular flowering plants and a number of rare Plage naturiste Albaron - Salin-de-Giraud (par bord du Vaccarès) 40 km 34’ 1h55 12 insects. Salin-de-Giraud - Port-Saint-Louis 9 km 20’ 33’ Tour Saint-Louis Boundary of the Camargue Regional Nature Park River stop © Carte et illustrations Vincent Brunot (via bac de Barcarin)

the Park the A new life is being invented… Discover

Telline, a seashell to taste delicate, caught on sandy beaches

The Park of Camargue offers a large diversity of landscapes : beaches, reedbeds, rice and wheat fi elds, ponds and the Mediterranean Sea. The delta of the Camargue is one of the richest ecosystems of Western Europe, created by the confl uence between the Rhône river and the Mediterranean sea. The Park is one of the principal migratory stopovers for birds migrating from Northern Europe to Africa. The biodiversity here is incredible, especially the fauna : fl amingos, bulls, horses, european bee-eaters, slender-billed gulls, sea swallows, heron, beaver, and the black-winged stilt. The Camargue is full off contrasts and its changing nuances occur hourly and throughout the seasons. There will always be a surprise for the visitor. We wish you a very good trip in the Camargue. Enjoy it !

Some of the Camargue’s animals Some of the Camargue’s plants to admire, but not touch La Camargue: main place of French rice production

Pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) dragonfl y (Lestes macrostigma) Sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum) Chardon des sables (Eryngium maritimum)

Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus) Guépier d’Europe (Merops apiaster) Sea lavender (Limonium narbonense) Annual Saltwort (Salicorna annua) The bull at the heart of the Camargue identity

ORANGE Discovering the natural and cultural heritage of the Camargue More informations A9 AVIGNON

NÎMES A7 25 Parc naturel Walking and cycling tours régional 1 6 des Alpilles SALON-DE- Musée de la Camargue Étang du Fangassier The Camargue Regional Nature Park offers 14 walking PROVENCE MONTPELLIER ARLES To discover the Park, start by visiting the Museum of Visite avec le Bureau des Guides Naturalistes or cycling discovery tours within its borders, in order to A54 Camargue. You will learn of the special relationship observe the full diversity of Camargue lands-capes : from > MARSEILLE A guide tour of « étang du Fangassier » owned by the between the inhabitants and nature through objects, the vineyards in the north to the beaches in the south Parc naturel Conservatoire du Littoral, allows you to know everything régional images and videos. The Tadashi Kawamata observa- via the salt meadows and marshes.Starting in Arles, de Camargue about the Rhone Delta and discover the only site in Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer or Port - Saint-Louis-du- tory is the beginning of a 3,5 km trail where you will France where Flamingos reproduce. encounter a variety of landscapes. Rhône, the tours are arranged thema-tically so as to give MER MÉDITERRANÉE Contact Étang du Fangassier - Salin-de-Giraud. you all the keys to understanding this exceptional area. Mas du Pont de Rousty In case of nesting by fl amingoes on the site : RD 570 - Arles guided tours from 01/04 to 30/09, Pack available in French, English and German. Tél. +33 (0)4 90 97 10 82 fee for the visit and reservation by phone On sale at Arles and Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône Tourist information [email protected] - www.museedelacamargue.com at 06 95 90 70 48. www.guide-nature.fr tourist offi ces, the Museum of the Camargue and October to March : every day from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. the Vigueirat Marshes. Can be downloaded from : Tourist offi ce of Arles Closed on 25/12, 01/01 and weekends from November to January www.parc-camargue.fr/itineraires.html City center (except for school holidays). April to September : open every day 7 Esplanade Charles de Gaulle - 13200 Arles € € Réserve naturelle nationale Tél. +33(0)4 90 18 41 20 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm except for 01/05. Entrance fee, 7 /4 . Tourism and Handicaps Label and « Musée de France ». des Marais du Vigueirat Salin-de-Giraud Rue Tournaire - 13200 Arles Meadow and fl ooded wood, The Camargue largest Tél. +33(0)4 42 86 89 77 2 reed bed constitute an environment teeming with life L’appli Chemins des Parcs Chemins des Parcs Domaine de la Palissade Balades et randonnées dans les Parcs naturels www.arlestourisme.com - [email protected] with thousands of birds, 5 herds of bulls and Camargue régionaux de Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur ! The Domaine de la Palissade is a conservatoire du Litto- On this website www.cheminsdesparcs.fr all the infor- Tourist offi ce of horses. Thematic boardwalks - walking tours, carriage ral property open to the public. Here, on pedestrian and ride, kayak, and pony and horse rides. mation is available to prepare for your trip in the Ca- Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Choisissez, margue and in the 8 others regional parks of the region. horseback trails it is possible to observe the principal Vivez, 5 avenue Van Gogh - 13460 Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Mas Thibert Partagez… Website and smartphone application are available for Tél. +33(0)4 90 97 82 55 wetlands of Camargue, the natural habitats of birds and Tél. +33(0)4 90 98 70 91 park information. www.saintesmaries.com - [email protected] fi sh. Exhibitions and guided tours are available. [email protected] Tourist offi ce of Salin-de-Giraud www.marais-vigueirat.reserves-naturelles.org Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône Tél. +33(0)4 42 86 81 28 Opening times 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, February to 15 November. Tour Saint-Louis - Quai Bonnardel [email protected] - www.palissade.fr Free trails and guided tours on reservation. Boutique, refreshment 13230 Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône Opening times : February and November, wednesday and organic food. Access by bike from the ViaRhôna. Tél. +33(0)4 42 86 01 21 Labelled « Accueil Vélo ».

to sundayfrom www.portsaintlouis-tourisme.fr 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ; From 01/03 to 30/06 and October, every day [email protected] from 9 am to 5 pm ; From 07/01 to 09/30 every day from 9 am to 6 pm. Closed in December and January, 1st May and 11th November. 8 Maison du riz Camargue régional Horseback and kayak excursions from 01/04 to 31/10. Rice growner in the Camargue for fi ve genera- Where to watch birds ? nature park There is an admission charge. Boutique and picnic area. tions, the Rozière Family welcome you to their farm www.parc-camargue.fr - [email protected] Nearly 2/3 of the birds observed in Europe can be where they have created a visitor centre about rice- Museum of Camargue seen in the Camargue, which makes it a popular Mas du Pont de Rousty growing. The visit includes a trail with small rice fi elds, place with ornithologists, both professional and 13200 Arles an exhibition room, a demonstration of the rice white- amateur. Discover the booklet « Where to watch Tél. 0+33(0)4 90 97 10 82 Réserve naturelle nationale ning process and a tasting session on request. birds in the Camargue Regional Nature Park », www.museedelacamargue.com - [email protected] de Camargue which tells you 11 good sites for birdwatching, Domaine de la Palissade Mas de la Vigne, Albaron - Arles 13129 Salin-de-Giraud Tél. +33(0)6 31 03 40 11 and more generallyfor observing Camargue Tél. +33(0)4 42 86 81 28 One of the largest wetlands conservation re- maisonduriz@orange.fr plants and wildlife. serves in Europe, the Reserve of Camargue co- [email protected] www.maisonduriz.com - Open every day from April to end of November, Available in French and English Downloadable : vers 13 200 hectares from the Vaccarès lake to from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm. Local produce shop. www.parc-camargue.fr/ou-observer-les-oi- This document is printed on unbleached paper, the Mediterranean beaches. The landscapes are Subject to COVID-19 regulations. Reservation strongly recommended ! seaux-en-camargue.html using wood from sustainablymanaged forests. 2021 wild and authentic. 9 Château de Tourvielle - Tour du Tampan Built at the beginning of the 17th century to control and Biosphere Reserve PNRC : M. Mercier - D. Mathieu - A. Tindille ; Séverine Bourdeaux ; Pure impression / Crédits photos : PNRC : Agence Caméléon/PNRC - A. Chevalier - A. Crestey - P. Daniel - D. Lazin - M. Mercier - E. Rouquette - C. Scannapieco Rouquette - C. Mercier - E. Lazin - M. Daniel - D. Crestey - P. A. - Chevalier A. Agence Caméléon/PNRC - PNRC : Pure impression / Crédits photos : Séverine Bourdeaux ; ; Tindille A. Mathieu - Mercier - D. M. PNRC : Vlassis et G. Séguier - J. - E. ce de tourisme Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône de Gau - Offi ornithologique de Pont /BGN - Maison du Riz Parc Giraud Depernet/MDV - C. Baudouin/SMPGCC - C. Befeld/RNC - S. Mathieu - S. -D. Vialet E. monitor the access of ships to the Rhône delta and to the port of Arles. It underwent various transformations Since 1977, the Camargue has been designated by UNESCO to become an agricultural farmhouse until the middle of as a « Biosphere Reserve » covering the whole biogeogra- 3 La Capelière / Accueil Réserve the 20th century: the Tampan tower then took the name phical delta of the Rhône. This designation involves the setting What is a Regional of Tourvieille castle. This Tower now has a 9 m high ob- up of a sustainable development project whose results are naturelle nationale de Camargue servatory, which today allows you to discover lagoons, assessed every 10 years. The project concerns the conservation Nature Park ? Information center of the Camargue National Nature Reserve, Capelière offers marshes and beaches. This tower bears witness to the of natural areas, support for human activities in harmony a 1,5 km trail to discover a mosaic of Camargue environments, 4 observatories many faces of the long history of the Camargue and of with the environment, including sustainable tourism, and to approach the marshland fauna, an exhibition on the Camargue and a naturalist the men who lived. also backs research and awareness-raising about the Ca- margue’s exceptional biodiversity. shop. Tourvieille Castle - 13129 Salin de Giraud A regional natural park is both : C134 route de Fiélouse - Arles - Tél. +33(0)4 90 97 00 97 GPS coordinates : 43.418691° N, 4.675096° E www.mab-france.org/en/ [email protected] - www.snpn.com/reservedecamargue A inhabited rural territory recognized for its strong heritage Opening times : April to 30 September : every day from 9:00 am and landscape value, open to all but whose fragile balance to 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm ; October to March : open from 9:00 am 10 Maison du cheval Camargue to 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Closed every Tuesday except during school requires the greatest respect ; holidays. Occasionally closed in winter, inquire beforehand. There is an Find out about the Camargue horse breed, its history, Ramsar Label the way it is raised, its involvement in the management admission charge. Shaded picnic area. Labelled « Tourisme et Handicap ». The french state is a member of the Convention on Wetlands, of natural areas, etc. by means of a guided walking tour a public institution of consultation between the authorities, called the Ramsar Convention, since 1986. One of the most (1,5 km) in the heart of the Mas de la Cure estate. the local people and the economic decision-makers. 4 Phare de la Gacholle et digue à la mer varied and rich ecosystems, wetlands are threatened all Its remit is to reconcile human development and nature Mas de la Cure, Chemin de Bardouine around the world. The park of the Camargue is a Ramsar One of the starting points for a tour of the sea dyke : 20 km of pathways for Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (in front of the site, and exemplifi es the protection of wetlands through the conservation. pedestrians or cyclists (but not cars). Although the dunes themselves are out of Castle of Avignon) - Tél. +33(0)4 90 97 76 37 sustainable use of resources. [email protected] bounds, the sea is accessible via marked paths. The birds include gulls, terns and www.maisonduchevalcamargue.com Like the other 55 regional natural parks in France, fl amingos. Exhibition on the subject of the Camargue coast, and an observatory. Guided visit by reservation only, fee charged, all year for groups the Camargue Regional Natural Park mobilizes Open every day during school holidays, on week-ends and public holidays (12 people min.) and from April to September, wednesday and friday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Occasionally closed in winter, inquire beforehand. from 10:00 to 11:45 am for individuals. a multidisciplinary team that works as well : Free entrance. Motor vehicles are prohibited. Picnic area, shop, sea dike. In the current health context, reception at the Phare de la Gacholle is not Protection and enhancement of the natural and cultural assured and the center of La Capelière is closed to the public until further notice. 11 Point de vue du sel Follow the actions of the Park ! heritage ; The Giraud salt works, near the mouth of the Grand Land use planning ; Rhône, covers 6 000 hectares and produces various com- 5 pounds that are used by the chemical industry, including Parc ornithologique de Pont de Gau 340 000 tonnes of sodium chloride a year. The Salt works Economic, social and cultural development ; An ideal birdwatching site for the many species of observatory is on the road. Between Piemanson and Find all the actions of the Camargue, especially fl amingos. Trails and observato- Salin-de-giraud. Regional Natural Park of Camargue Reception and public awareness of wealth and on : ries bring you alongside wild fauna and amongst the Route de la plage de Piémanson heritage fragility ; various settings of marshes, ponds, reedbeds and salt- Salin-de-Giraud. marsh scrubs. Our website www.parc-camargue.fr Experimentation and research for the development Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau Our facebook of new environmentally sound practices. RD 570 - Saintes-Maries-de-la-mer Tél. +33 (0)4 90 97 82 62 12 Tour Saint-Louis [email protected] Built in 1737, this historic monument is an active ligh- www.parcornithologique.com - The reception desk is open every day thouse. It houses the Offi ce de Tourisme, the largest Marque « Valeurs Parc naturel régional » : The Park in numbers (except for 25/12) from 01/04 to 30/09 : 9 am to 6 pm. ornithological collection in the Camargue, temporary From 01/10 to 31/03 : 10 am to 6 p.m. On the back of this brochure, you will be able to spot on the map : exhibitions and a terrace with an exceptional viewpoint. Three towns ◗ Animal and plant species (not The Park exit is independent of the reception desk and remains - all the natural and cultural heritage sites presented above ; > Arles including invertebrates) : 1 100 open until sunset all year. Bar/terrace open from April to October. Offi ce de tourisme - Quai Bonnardel - all professionals that carry the « Valeurs Parc naturel Labelled « Tourisme et Handicap » and « Park brand ». régional » brand. > Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer of which 489 are protected, either Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône - Tél. +33(0)4 42 86 01 21 Buvette/terrace open from April to October. [email protected] > Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône nationally or worldwide www.portsaintlouis-tourisme.fr Marque « Accueil Vélo » : Opening times summer : monday to friday, « Accueil Vélo » is a national brand that guarantees ◗ Population : ◗ Migrating birds : 150 000 each 8:30 am to 12:00 am, and 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm. The opening hours are the reception of quality services along the cycling routes 10 848 inhabitants year. Three quarters of France’s extended during the tourist season. There is an admission charge. for itinerant cyclists. ◗ Area : 101 200 hectares bird species, half of its freshwater Other certifi ed service providers : ◗ Coastline : 75 k, Highest point fi sh species and a quarter of its Hôtel/Restaurant le Flamant Rose, Hôtel Mas de la Grenouillère, 4 metres above sea level ! plant species are to be found in Chambre d’hôtes et gîte Maebrilu Camargue Provence, the Camargue ! Marais du Vigueirat, Parc ornithologique du Pont de Gau.