Visiting Le Grau-du-Roi for Seafood and More

On a warm Saturday last summer, we headed seaside to Le Grau-du-Roi, a fishing port and beach resort, with cousins Jean-Marc and Christine. We figured we would find cooler temperatures near the Mediterranean Sea, and bonus, we could try out a new restaurant I had read about.

This town of 8400 inhabitants benefits from its fortunate position on the Mediterranean sea. Le Grau-du-Roi (lo Grau dou Rei in Provencal) is both a fishing port and beach resort. In the early 1960s, the Languedoc-Roussillon department initiated a program called the “mission Racine” to build mass tourism. If you visit Le Grau-du-Roi or any beach in the Camargue in July or August, you will determine that the program was successful.

Port Camargue – Constructed in the 1960s, this marina with 5,000+ moorings is an attractive destination for fishing boats and pleasure craft (including sailboats).

Camargue bulls and horses – Le Grau-du-Roi honours the local agricultural heritage with annual festivals surrounding the traditional white horses and black bulls of the region. Well worth seeing are the abrivados (arrival of the animals), bandidos (return to the manades) and the athleticism of a Course Camarguaise. Here is some essential reading for understanding the work of the gardians of Provence.

Lighthouses – There are two historical lighthouses in Le Grau-du-Roi. Phare du Grau d’Aigues-Mortes (1828) a round tower, and Phare de l’Espiguette (1869) a lighthouse with a square base. Both towers are historical monuments.

Beaches and Sand Dunes – At 10km long, the Espiguette beach is a wild and protected area with excellent swimming.

Markets – Le grand marché (Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturday mornings), le marché des producteurs & Bio (Friday mornings) and a daily fish market le marché au poison.

Wine – la Maison Méditerranéenne des Vins has a large selection of wines (2,500+) from the Gard for sampling and purchase, along with regional products.

Michel and Shirley

Michel and Shirley, live in wine country, in Windsor, California. They have a full family with two beautiful daughters and five amazing grandchildren. Michel's day job is as CEO of Chancellor Health Care, a company which provides housing and services to older adults.

Previously a co-owner of a popular French bistro called Bistro des Copains located in Western Sonoma County California. The Bistro was closed in early 2015, after nine years!

In 2008, after searching for years and visiting many houses they bought a 17th century stone village house in the medieval village of Sablet which is in the Vaucluse region of Provence France.

Please read about the Sablet House (available for rent) and follow their blog Our House in Provence.