Visiting the Pink Flamingos of Camargue in Provence

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker:

Flamingos in Provence

Did you know that we have a lot of pink flamingos in Provence? It’s not something that one would associate with the place of hilltop towns, olives, almonds, sunflowers, and lavender but that is my favourite thing about this region- it’s diversity.

From our location in Provence, close to St Remy, we can drive an hour in any direction and reach the sea, mountains, or lakes. Or, in this case, the salty marshlands of the Camargue known for their bulls, horseback riding prowess, and diverse bird wildlife.

…Continue reading here to see Ashley’s gorgeous photos of their visit to the Camargue to this wildlife park.

Visiting the Camargue

As Ashley points out, in this natural environment of brackish water, reeds and thistles, seagrass, and small canals there are mosquitos. So plan your visit accordingly and take bug repellent, wear long sleeves and if possible visit on a windy day.

These beautiful pink flamingos are only one of five reasons to visit the Camargue. There are horses with coats that turn from grey to white by the time they are three years old. Iconic jet black bulls are raised for one of two activities fighting or their meat. These taureaux (bulls) are the same ones that you see in the local arenas or running in village streets during summer festivals. The roots of this cowboy culture run deep in the Bouches du Rhône, these equine activities migrated to the region from Italy, and Spain remains immensely popular.

Plan to visit Aigues Mortes (translates to dead waters) the last town on the Rhône River before it flows into the Mediterranean near to Saintes Maries de la Mer. Surrounded by restored ramparts, you get the impression of what it might have been like living in a fortified city. Plan to do the self-guided rampart tour, and make sure to get the informative audio-guide.

Just outside the town walls is the Salins d’Aigues Mortes, where you can see how the fleur de sel (sea salt) is harvested. During the busy summer months, buy your entry tickets in advance to guarantee spots on the little train tour.

Shopping tip: Before you leave the Camargue, sample some wine from Sable de Camargue a vineyard with grapevines planted in the sandy soil, buy some taureaux sausage and the local rice.

Via:: Curious Provence