> Camargue
 

Arles - 20km - 25 minutes by car

Delightful town, once one of the most important provincial cities of the Roman Empire.

Scattered around the narrow streets are relics of a lost empire, complete with the 4th-century remains of an emperor’s palace, the remnants of a Roman circus and an arena where gladiatorial contests were staged.

Visit the Musee de l’Arles et la Provence Antiques to see the finest collection of Roman sculpture and mosaics in Provence.

Enjoy the year round expositions, museums and historic atmosphere.

The Saturday Market is a lively affair.

The Camargue National Park - 40km - 45 minutes by car

A botanical and zoological nature reserve where the Rhone meets the sea.  346,000 acres of lagoons, salt flats and marshes.

Home to pink flamingos, white horses, black bulls and marshland birds

Take a boat trip through the waterways, discover the National Park along the marked trails on foot or bicycle. Ride the Camargue horses on a guided tour.

Call in at the ranches (called manades) where both bulls and horses are bred, a great way to get to know the famous ‘Camargue cowboys'.

Visit the Musee Camarguais and the various information centres in the area to learn more about the reserve and its inhabitants.

Aigues Mortes - 70km - 1 hour 10 minutes by car

France's most perfectly preserved walled town

The cobbled streets in this unspoilt town are enclosed by ramparts that were constructed between 1272 and 1300.

The Tour de Constance looks out on the marshes,  At the top (which you can reach by elevator), a panoramic view unfolds.

Travel through the Camargue salt plains aboard the ‘salt train’.

Saintes Maries-de-la-Mer – 60km - 1 hour by car

Seaside town with a romantic history and a very strong gipsy tradition.

Take a boat trip into the lagoons or hire kayaks

Rent bikes for self guided tours along cycle paths

Walk along the sea wall to discover the Camargue’s rich birdlife and landscapes.

Experience one of the best views of the Camargue from the rooftop terrace of the Eglise des Stes-Maries church.

Beaches - 70 km - 1 hour by car

Le Grau de Roi, just to the west of this pleasant town with its modern seaside facilities, is a lovely and unspoiled beach with good sand and clean water.

The Plage de Piemançon or Plage d’Arles is a lovely sandy remote beach, 6km long and protected by dunes covered with rare plants.

The Plage de Beauduc a 7-kilometer-long beach of fine sand  is a paradise for Kite surfing and fly surfing enthusiasts.