Le Vaccarès, Tour of the pond in two days

Office opening: • January - February - March - November - December: from 9h00 to 17h00 • April - May - June - September: from 9h00 to 19h00 • July & August: from 9h00 to 20h00 • October: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tel: 33 4 90 97 82 55 - Fax: 33 4 90 97 71 15 info@saintesmaries.com www.saintesmaries.com/fr/

On the edge of the Vaccarès pond nature reserve, the Domaine de Méjanes offers a privileged approach to the Camargue and its traditions, while respecting the environment. The domain of Méjanes is an old fortified residence of the Templars of the 13th century, part of the buildings of which date from the 11th century. Acquired by Paul Ricard in 1939, the Domaine is now an agricultural and tourist property which allows you to discover all the riches of the Camargue natural environment, on foot, on horseback, by mountain bike or with the little train. Authentic and secret, this land between the Rhône and the Mediterranean is unique for its flora and fauna, the wetlands of which are an exceptional natural place of residence for a multitude of animal and plant species. Phone. +33 (0) 4 90 97 10 10 Fax +33 (0) 4 90 97 12 32 www.mejanes-camargue.fr

Information center of the National Nature Reserve of Camargue On the banks of the Vaccarès, La Capelière was opened in 1979 in an old Camargue farmhouse surrounded by marshes. Nature trails, nature information center, exhibitions. reserve-camargue.org 04 90 97 00 97 Schedule : 09: 00–13: 00, 14: 00–17: 00

If the village only had its church and a few houses in the 19th century, it is at the center of a territory that includes the most beautiful farmhouses in the Camargue: the painted farmhouse, the Cazeau tower farmhouse. This sector specializes in the breeding of herds of bulls and the cultivation of rice, including organic rice. There is also an important private research center on the flora and fauna of the marshes, the biological station of the Tour du Valat.

The Tour du Valat aims to promote and directly contribute to the conservation of Mediterranean wetlands. The central part has been designated as a Voluntary Nature Reserve since 1984. It is the largest in France. The station and the reserve are only open to the public 2 days a year, during an open day in January and February. Normally, access to the Station is reserved for scientists.

From the ruins of the buildings of this former royal saltworks, easily accessible, but with authorization, you can access magnificent discovery trails on 4.5 kilometers of hiking trails. The three observatories and the trails are reserved for visitors with an authorization issued to La Capelière. Warning : Photography is regulated throughout the site. Dogs are not allowed on the site.

At Mas Saint Bertrand Nature atmosphere in a still wild setting. Camarguais restaurant for lunch, Gîtes and Bed and Breakfast From the end of March to the end of October: +33 (0) 4 42 48 80 69

The village of Salin-de-Giraud is located to the south-east of the Camargue delta, in the town of Arles but 40 km from the city center. Located on the right bank of the Grand Rhône. Phone: 04 42 86 89 77 ot-arles@arlestourisme.com www.arlestourisme.com

Emblem of the Camargue, the flamingo owes in part its color to the carotene contained in its food. From spring, flamingos nest in colonies, the male and female in turn incubate the single egg placed in a mud nest. Gray at birth, the young flamingo will be able to fly around 10 weeks and will take on its pink color around 3 years old.

The Gacholle lighthouse, between Beauduc and Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, has a white square tower, topped with a black upper part and a white dome. On the ground, the building is part of a horizontal service and residential building. Nowadays it is automated. Special feature: it is powered by a solar generator. Not open to visitors, however, the buildings surrounding the lighthouse are now occupied by the Camargue National Reserve.