The Camargue Horse
Allow me to first claim that these photos are from a trip back in 2006. They clearly show how much technology has improved since that time. While the photos aren’t exactly the greatest, the experience and journey most certainly was.
In southern France is a remote town that is nestled along the Mediterranean sea on a delta flanked by the Rhone River. This 360 square mile delta is strangely barren, with salt flats and sea marshes but teaming of life and color with Pink Flamingos, black Camargue Bulls, and white Camargue horses. The Camargue could be viewed as the French wild west with Provencal cowboys and a rough and tough landscape.
St. Maries de la Mer
My friends and I reached the Camargue after a four-day long horseback ride from the Luberon Mountains to the flat salt marshes surrounding Saintes Maries de la Mer. The day had grown long and hot, and we were anxious to get back our land legs. We were riding in the heat of the summer, and the drought on the flat lands were clearly evident by the deep cracks in the dirt.
Along the dried flat lands.
Can you see the Flamingos in the distance?
Saintes Maries de la Mer offers everything in life that I love – beautiful natural scenery, a charming village, plenty of shops with local (say French Provencial) food, wine and handicrafts, fabulous restaurants, wildlife and bird watching and best of all – horseback riding!
It is said that the three saints, Mary Magdalene, Mary Salome, and Mary Jacobe sailed to this area after witnessing the empty tomb of Jesus after his resurrection. The town is now a pilgrimage destination for gypsies who honor Saint Sarah, a dark-skinned saint from Eqypt who is said to have been a servant to the three Marys.
Church where shrine for Saint Sarah is held.
The evening was spent in celebration for a well-ridden week at the Restaurant Le Delta with a traditional and local dish, Gardiane la Camargue ‘Bull Stew’ which you can make at home with traditional Beef Shanks.
Now time for the final day of our journey in the Camargue. The morning was planned for a three-hour trail ride in the Camargue National Park and Preserve. We were told that bulls and horses run free in the preserve, and is host to over 300 species of birds. The Camargue Preserve is now a Unesco World Heritage Site and covers over 350,000 acres of land.
To get to the delta, a short ferry ride was necessary. Loading people, horses, cars and other random items, all piled onto the small ferry for the quick ride over the river. On the other side is a small soda stand, perfect to refresh from the beating sun and high heat.
After a short break and back in the saddle, we headed out to the sea in search of the elusive black bulls. While we were able to see some far in the distance, they just seemed like black spots to me. Our trail guides prepared a wonderful Provencial lunch for us in the shade and allowed us plenty of time for lunch and a nap.
Working on my tan, although my hands were white when I got home. Gee, wonder why?
Provencial Lunch on the Camargue
Categories: About, Equitrekking, France, Provence
Emily Carter ~ Nature as Art 
Wow these photos are amazing – I bet that was so much fun! I haven’t been to South France but I would love to go.
Thank you so much Shannon ! It really was a fascinating and fantastic place. I’ve learned so much about photography this past year that when I look at these photos I see how I could have done so much better. That just means I’ve got to go back someday and try again!
Lovely photos, have spent a lot of time in France but have yet to visit the Camargue. An artsy old film well worth seeing is ‘Crin Blanc’. Despite being from the 1950s there is beautiful footage of the horses. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Mane I watched it by accident when covering a French class for an absent teacher!
Thank you so much ! I appreciate the film referral and will most definitely check them out. I loved the Camargue horses and really wanted to bring one home with me – but alas, they didn’t fit into my suitcase.
Gotta love the Camargue, it is so different to the rest of Provence, so unique, something there for everyone. I took my children to see the flamingoes, spectacular.
Hi Claire ! It is so rare to meet someone that has also been to the Camargue. It really is a wonderful place and I wish I had been able to spend more time there. Thanks for stopping by.
Looks like an amazing trip! I would love to do something like that – these days it tends to be more on a bicycle, but my sister and I used to dream of horseback riding across Canada. I believe it can still be done!
Hi Anita ! Yes, it really was a fabulous trip, and I went back this past year to do a different route. There are equitrekking trips in Canada also, and funny as I was just thinking about them yesterday. Thanks for stopping by.
Wow, what a lovely blog. Thanks for sharing! I’ve just been researching the Camargue for an article on our website and everything you says really encompasses all that I have discovered. Beautiful photos. Do you recommend a particular company for the riding?
Thank you very much S. France. The equitrekking company I’ve used in Provence is Cap Rando, who have been in the area for over 26 years. They are in Mas de Recaute. Here is their web site: http://www.horsebackridingvacations.eu/accueil.php
Thanks so much Bella. I shall put this as a link on our website. It’s always better to know someone who has had a good experience at a company before recommending them 🙂 Thanks again, and am looking forward to seeing more of your photos!
What a fabulous way to travel, you have had some amazing experiences and done it in such a unique way. Not sure how long I’d last on a horse, it has been many years and my body would need retraining to cope with the saddle soreness 🙂
LOL ! You have no idea how sore I was on this trip. It was all it took to slide off the horse at the end of the day. The next morning I dreaded getting back on. But once there it felt great ! I have no problems now.
We love all the horses! 🙂
🙂