Parc naturel régional de Camargue Park

Website: https://www.parc-camargue.fr

Parc naturel régional de Camargue is a protected regional park in the Rhône river delta in southern France that conserves a mix of wetlands, salt flats, marshes and dune systems. The area is internationally recognised for its wetlands and for iconic fauna such as pink flamingos, Camargue horses and the local bull breeds.

Visitors encounter broad shallow lagoons, reedbeds and open marshes that support large populations of waterbirds and other wetland species. Traditional pastoral uses such as salt production and grazing by gardians continue in parts of the park alongside conservation programmes.

The park was established to protect the distinctive deltaic landscapes and to manage human activities such as agriculture, tourism and salt production in a way that maintains ecological values. Management combines nature conservation, cultural heritage and sustainable local economic activities.

Geographically the park occupies the low-lying Rhône delta between the city of Arles and the Mediterranean coast, in the Provence region of southern France. The landscape is flat and dominated by shallow lagoons and reedbeds with seasonal water level variation.

• Birdlife: The region is internationally important for birdlife, notably pink flamingos which nest and feed in the wetlands; spring and early summer are prime months for breeding displays.
• Access points: Access is often by designated routes and reserve centres; many visitors use Arles or Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer as gateways to explore the park.

What to See#

• Étang de Vaccarès: A large shallow coastal lagoon at the heart of the Camargue wetlands that provides core habitat for breeding and feeding waterbirds, including flamingos and waders.
• Marshes and horse grazing areas: Extensive marshes and reedbeds used by traditional gardian (cowboy) herds and by free-roaming Camargue horses, an iconic local breed adapted to wetland pasture.

The park is best accessed from Arles, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer and Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône. From Arles, drive southwest along the D570 or take regional buses to key villages; many towns in the park have cycle rental and local visitor centers that map trails and hides.

• Go at dawn to see the flamingos at the Vaccarès lagoon-bring binoculars and a long lens.
• Visit the salt flats and rice fields around Arles and Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer for different Camargue landscapes in the same day.
• Rent a bicycle in Saintes-Maries or Les Saintes to cover more of the delta's trails and saline roads.