Every year, on 24 and 25 May, the gypsies organize a great pilgrimage to Saintes-Maries de la Mer. This event attracts thousands of visitors from all over Europe, and sometimes even further away.
A large procession is organized in honour of Sara, their patron saint. This tradition has been going on for many centuries.
Discover the Black Madonna
Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is a renowned seaside resort, open to both the wide open spaces of the Camargue and the blue waves of the Mediterranean Sea. Numerous beaches welcome swimmers, kite surfers and windsurfers. You can walk on the sand of the endless Beauduc beach, whose wild character has been preserved, or you can prefer the beaches of the Crin-Blanc or the Arènes just a few meters from the small marina. Various nautical activities are offered on site, to be shared with family, couples or friends.
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The Camargue is a changing territory, born from the meeting of a river, the Rhône, and the Mediterranean Sea. The numerous ponds are home to an extraordinary fauna and flora: pink flamingos meet there every summer, and some now stay there all year round. This wild territory is also famous for its bulls and horses.
Discover a remarkable territory on foot, by bike or on horseback: from the Étang de Vaccarès to the Etang de Monro, from the Rhône to the Petit Rhône, wilderness stretches welcome you. The Camargue is also famous for its beaches, Beauduc and Piemanson being certainly the most popular.
Read more : Camargue Regional Natural Park
The Museum of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer allows you to discover the historical past of the town, through numerous objects from archaeological excavations. The museum focuses more particularly on the proximity of the town to the Mediterranean Sea.
The Church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer in Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, of Romanesque architecture, resembles a medieval fortress with its battlements. You can admire the bell tower with its five bells, and visit the crypt which houses the statue of Sara and her relics
Created by sculptor Marius Jean Antonin Mercié, the statue of Mireille pays tribute to the poem by Frédéric Mistral, a fervent defender of Provençal culture.
You can delve into the past of southern France by visiting the medieval town of Aigues-Mortes to the west, famous for its impressive ramparts, or by visiting the ancient city of Arles to the north, famous for its Roman arena.
We help you to prepare your stay in the Camargue.
