Camargue — Saintes-Maries, gypsies, crusades, flamingos

Your journey begins in Aigues-Mortes, a fortified city whose ramparts were erected between 1272 and 1289 under the order of Saint Louis. These walls then protected the Mediterranean port from which the crusades departed. The Tour de Constance, 32 meters high, was a prison for Huguenot Protestants from the 16th to the 18th century, and its 1.65 km of ramparts with 20 defensive towers tell centuries of conflicts. Your mission here is to decipher the first enigmas, revealing the secrets of the departures to the Holy Land and the history of the city of Aigues-Mortes.

Continue towards Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, where the fortified church, a Historic Monument, was built from the 12th century (around 1144-1180) and strengthened in the 14th century against Saracen invasions. It was here, in 1448, that King René d'Anjou ordered the discovery of the relics of Mary Jacobe and Mary Salome. The crypt houses the statue of Saint Sara, the Black Madonna, about 0.5 m high and dressed in robes offered by pilgrims. The single nave, 15 meters high, and the panoramic terrace, accessible by a narrow staircase, offer a perspective on this sanctuary city in France, a major site for the Gypsy pilgrimage on May 24 and 25, attracting 15,000 people annually.

Next, the Salins du Midi, visible from the D979 in Aigues-Mortes, reveal salt exploitation since the 13th century. This major industrial site historically produced up to 800,000 tons of sea salt per year. The salt mountain and panoramic views of the evaporation ponds, stained pink by Dunaliella salina, immerse you in a unique landscape. Here you will discover how this resource has shaped the economy and life in Occitanie, from antiquity to the present day, influencing trade routes and local customs.

The route also takes you to the Pont de Sylvéréal, a 370-meter suspension bridge built in 1962 over the Petit Rhône. It is an emblematic observation point for Camargue landscapes, where gardians and bulls can be seen. It is also a place where the symbol of the Camargue cross manifests itself: an anchor for hope, a heart for charity, and a cross for faith. Nearby, the Manade de Méjanes, founded at the end of the 19th century and linked to Folco de Baroncelli-Javon, perpetuates Camargue bull games in its arenas with a capacity of about 1000 seats. Baroncelli founded the Nacioun Gardiano in 1909 to preserve these traditions.

Your exploration of the Camargue Regional Natural Park will finally lead you to the free observatories of the Étang de Vaccarès, the largest stagnant body of water in the Camargue (5400 ha), classified Natura 2000. The heart of the Regional Natural Park since 1970, it has hosted nesting populations of pink flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) since the 1980s. The Phare de la Gacholle, built in 1865 and visible 28 km at sea, offers a panorama of the Rhône delta. Finally, the Vieux Mas de l'Évêque in Le Sambuc, an 18th-century mas whose facade displays the Camargue cross, exhibits local folklore. This roadtrip offers a total immersion in the soul of the Camargue, between history, nature, and centuries-old traditions, an interactive visit and a unique GPS treasure hunt.