The Camargue

The Camargue

We went to the Camargue for the day - about an hour and a quarters drive from Isle sur la Sorgue. This is the region between two branches of the Rhone where they reach the Mediterranean Sea. The area produces rice and cattle and salt. It is a large Nature Park with abundant wildlife. 

It is especially known for it's white horses - one of the oldest breeds in the world which thrive on the saline wetlands. Most are domesticated and there are many opportunities for horse riding but some are still semi wild. 

The Camargue is also known for it's small black bulls which have never been able to be domesticated. They are used for meat, and bull games where the bull is the centre of attention and is not killed as in bull fighting.

Then thirdly the Camargue is known for pink flamingoes which breed on a small island on the delta. Almost 3/4 of the  540 birds varieties in France are seen on the Camargue and 115 of them breed there.

So it's a special place and it was good to get dressed in our boots and hiking clothes and spend the day there. 

The main town St Marie de la Mer has a beach that was very busy with beach goers.

                                                    This was before the crowds descended.

We chose to spend most of our time at the Wildlife Park where we were pleased to see flamingoes in abundance as well as lots of other birds.

I'd never understood about flamingoes dancing before but they really do lift their legs up and down rhythmically as if they are dancing. It's beautiful to watch.

                                          Lots of dragon flies were out in many colours.

 

                                                   

                                                     I love these patterns in the mud.

                                                               Lunch in the shade.

This exit sign at the wildlife centre interested me and I presume reflects the nationalities of their visitors - French, English, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, Czech, Hungarian, Russian and Polish.

We caught this ferry across the Rhone to go to more remote areas. It's guided by a cable but is driven by paddle wheels on each side.

Some white horses. We saw black bulls in the distance but too far away to photograph.

       The houses are very different to the rest of Provence and seem to suit the more rugged environment.