You can see the
white horses of
the Camargue  
roaming free in
the grasslands
along the Rhone
River Delta.
They do roam
free and are
protected in the
nature preserve
to sustain the
breed.
Camargue Horses, Provence The South of France
Camargue
White Horses
and the
unique
lifestyle of
the Gardiens
On the Rhone
River Delta
The Camargue
brings To mind
images of Gypsies,
white horses and
bulls roaming the
grasslands of
Southern France.
The horses of the Camargue are an
indigenous breed, some say, once wild
and now protected by the government to
keep the breed pure. They do roam free
as a breeding stock and mate without
intervention. The horsemen and women of
the Camargue harvest them regularly,
culling the young ones for saddle horses
and gelding those unfit for breeding. They
are a gentle and intelligent horse
possessed of stamina and agility and a
liking for people
Caravans head for the
Rhone Delta and
Camping in the Camargue
Vacation cottages in St. Maries de la Mere the
homes of the gardiens the "Cowboys" of the
Camargue
Camargue Salt Works: looks like sand but it is
Camargue sea salt harvested from Mediterranean
Sea water in huge evaporation pools, continuing a
tradition that goes back to Medieval times.
The Gypsy spirit takes
over in the Camargue
as campers head for
the tip of the Rhone
delta.
We serve the salt at the table. Called Fleur
de Sel, by some packagers, this finishing
salt is  sprinkled lightly on food to give the
food a blast of salt (tingle) without salting
the whole meal.  
The Camargue
cottage, home of the
Gardiens, the tenders
of the Camargue
horses and bulls,  is a
unique stucco and
thatch dwelling that
hints at a Celtic
heritage with a north
African influence
Arles is the gateway to
the Camargue
The Gardiens raise the bulls for the
bullrings of Southern France and Spain
Others believe the breed is
pure and indigenous to the
Rhone Delta and stems
from a  primitive breed
found  locally as fossilized
bones.

Others link their traits to the
Spanish war horse, their
small size at  13 hands
would have made them
excellent shipboard
travelers and their stamina
and strength would have
made them an ideal war
horse.
The immature Camargue
horse is black or brown in
color but upon reaching
adulthood at about four
years will turn to the familiar
white color.
The Camargue Gardien
uses the Camargue horse
to manage the black
Camargue bulls that they
raise in the vast grassland
of the Camargue.  Often
they will pasture a
Camargue horse with a
herd of young bulls.     
In the vast
pastures of the
Camargue the
Gardiens
raise the  
black bulls
used in the
bullrings of
southern
France and
Spain.
The Camargue,Provence
The horses of the Camargue are an
indigenous breed, some say, once wild
and now protected by the government to
keep the breed pure.
Non lethal bullfighting of
Provence
One source claims they are a
millenniums-old breeding stock used by
Celtic people, Greeks,  Romans, Arabs,
and others who lived along the Rhone or
would come by ship to the mouth of the
Rhone to cull out the young for war
horses.                 
Do You need an International Driving Permit to drive in Europe.
In France and Italy you can rent a car and do not need to show an International Permit, only your drivers
license from your home country and perhaps your passport.  Italian law requires that you carry an IDP as does
Spain, Portugal, Greece, and several of the former Soviet Union countries. The International driver's permit is
issued by the American Automobile Association AAA in the States and the CAA in Canada. The cost is $15
and not a bad bit of insurance against running into trouble while driving in Europe.
No Passing for
commercial
vehicles
No Passing
zone ends
Highway or
Expressway
Intersection
with right of
way to right
road
showing
right of way
Rotary
with yield to
traffic in
rotary
Speed limits will be clearly marked and the Rotary will be a welcome site with its directions to various
towns.  Gassing up is similar to US with credit card and automatic shut-off at modern pumps. Car rental are
available in all large cities and at many TGV Train Stations..
Information for those renting a vehicle in Provence
For a Camargue holiday amidst the Camargue horses,  you can find Provence holiday
homes and vacation rentals for the Province vacation.  Hotels in Saints Maries de la
Mere are available within Camargue horse country or find luxury Provence hotels in
Arles, the gateway to the Camargue.
Camargue holiday homes for the Province
vacation.  Cottages and Hotels in Saints
Maries de la Mere are available within
Camargue horse country. Pictured above a
Camarge cottage rental.
Rent a Camargue cottage for a Camargue holiday rental amidst the Camargue horses.  You
can find Provence holiday homes and vacation rentals for the Province vacation in Saints
Maries de la Mere.  Hotels and lodging  are available within Camargue horse country or
you can base in luxury Provence hotels in Arles, just north of the Camargue.
Rent a Camargue cottage for a
Camargue holiday rental