The Camargue is the region in one of the largest river deltas in Europe. From [[Arles]] the river [[Rhone]] splits into the Grand Rhone and Petit Rhone. The area in and around here is the Camargue. Largely a protected area, it is flat, with almost as much water as land. Wildlife is abundant, paticularly birds and wild white horses. Salt is produced in great quantity from the vast number of saltflats and highly regarded locally. There are only two small towns, [[Saintes Maries de la Mer]] and [[Aigues Mortes]]. The terrain only allows for a few minor roads. Travel by boat might be more interesting, but the opportunity seems limited.
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The Camargue is the region in one of the largest river deltas in Europe. From [[Arles]] the river [[Rhone]] splits into the Grand Rhone and Petit Rhone. The area in and around here is the Camargue. Largely a protected area, it is flat, with almost as much water as land. Wildlife is abundant, paticularly birds and wild white horses. Salt is produced in great quantity from the vast number of saltflats and highly regarded locally. There are only two small towns, [[Saintes Maries de la Mer]] and [[Aigues Mortes]]. The terrain only allows for a few minor roads. Travel by boat might be more interesting, but the opportunity seems limited except for a trip from St Maries up the Petit Rhone for an hour or two.
La Camargue encompasses the Rhone River delta in the southeast of France. It is one of the best places in Europe for birdwatching; also great for biking and horse riding.
Parc Ornithologique du Pont de Gau - a series of lakes/scrapes which are home to many of the birds of the Camargue. The parc provides a good introduction to the native species.
To walk around the two sections takes about three hours, but the bird life on view will keep your attention and lengthen this time. Enthusiastic photographers could spend most of the day here.
The Camargue is the region in one of the largest river deltas in Europe. From Arles the river Rhone splits into the Grand Rhone and Petit Rhone. The area in and around here is the Camargue. Largely a protected area, it is flat, with almost as much water as land. Wildlife is abundant, paticularly birds and wild white horses. Salt is produced in great quantity from the vast number of saltflats and highly regarded locally. There are only two small towns, Saintes Maries de la Mer and Aigues Mortes. The terrain only allows for a few minor roads. Travel by boat might be more interesting, but the opportunity seems limited except for a trip from St Maries up the Petit Rhone for an hour or two.
You can contact a local travel agency, like www.durand-tourisme-gard.com.
This agency organize trip around Cevennes (classified on the world heritage of UNESCO) and Camargue.
When staying in a touristy city like Saintes Maries de la Mer, it can be difficult to find a place for a good dinner with anything beyond fried chips and over-grilled meat.
However, if you have a car, here are some tips for finding a good place serving local cuisine. Internet connection can help in your research. You should look for:
Restaurants out of town, even in remote locations. Minus the convenience factor of an in-town location, many countryside restaurants rely on local customers and fidelity to regional cuisine which attracts enough clientele despite remote location.
Menu that lists mostly or exclusively local specialties (see the list above)
Ferme Auberge (farm inn), an official government program. Members usually show good fidelity to local cuisine, though limited menu selection.
Membership in Conservatoire des Cuisines de Camargue, society for the preservation of true Camargue cuisine
Table d'hote (guest table), a kind of intimate restaurant. Often a bed and breakfast which prepares dinner with advance reservation. Don't confuse it with table d'hotes in a regular restaurant in a big city where it is more for solo diners to share a communal table--and more common at lunch.
Ask at the local tourist information office. They are not allowed to give opinions, but you can ask what restaurants serve local dishes in the list above or if there are any table d'hote or ferme auberge in the region.
Here are some restaurants that look promising per above recommendations as of Sept 2010 (although not tried hands-on by Wikitravelers yet):
Le Flamant Rose, ☎ 04 90 97 10 18 (lacave.frederic@wanadoo.fr, fax: 04 90 97 12 47), [1]. Member of a society for the preservation of true Camargue cuisine. Local specialties, plus a remote location.edit
Le Pont des Bannes, [2]. Very elegant. Hits every major local specialty and has almost nothing from outside the region on the menu.Dinner menus: starter+main+dessert: €43; starter+main: €36; main+dessert: 31; starter+dessert: 17. edit
Mas de Peint, [3]. Table d’hote, by reservation only.Breakfast: €22; lunch: €42; dinner: €55. edit
La Tour du Cazeau, Arles The Sambuc, ☎ 04 90 97 21 6 (contact@tour-du-cazeau.com, fax: 04 90 97 20 70), [4]. Ferme-auberge, by reservation only.Dinner menu: €25. edit
Le Tamaris, 13 rue Victor Hugo, Le Cailar, ☎ +33 (0)4 66 88 07 91 (restaurantletamaris@orange.fr), [5]. The most rustic – most likely to prepare food you absolutely cannot get outside of the Camargue. The display of their dishes, remote location, and menu selection suggests it is probably a worthwhile experience.Set menu: €13..16. edit
