the natural heritage · park only in designated areas. margue’s largest reed beds. these natural...

2
25 A9 A7 A54 Parc naturel régional des Alpilles Parc naturel régional de Camargue AVIGNON ORANGE ARLES SALON-DE- PROVENCE > MARSEILLE MER MÉDITERRANÉE NÎMES MONTPELLIER MONTPELLIER w SCOP bdd communication I Dominique Binet - 04 66 64 48 80 - Crédits photos : A.R. Johnson / Tour du Valat - J. Boudoux - A. Chevalier, P. Daniel, J. Roché, Opus Species, E. Vialet / PNRC S. Baudouin / SMCG S. Mercier SNPN / Réserve nationale de Camargue SNPN / Réserve nationale de Camargue Domaine de la Palissade F.Larrey, T. Roger / Découverte du Vivant Les Amis des Marais du Vigueirat Hoapo / Envies Rhônements G. Rey / G. Santantonio / Salin H. Hote/Agence Caméléon Service Communication / Port-Saint-Louis Beaches and reed beds, rice and wheat, the salt ponds and the Mediter- ranean – the Camargue Regional Nature Park is multifarious. Born out of a struggle between river and sea, the Camargue, in biological terms, is one of Wes- tern Europe’s richest regions, and an important stopping-off point for migratory birds as they go back and forth between Europe and Africa. It is also France’s only nesting site for the flamin- go, its world-famous emblem. And then there are the bulls, horses, beavers, owls, gulls, terns, herons and wading birds. The Camargue is a subtle blend of contrasts, both entrancing and ever-changing. It reveals it- self in a multitude of ways, depending on the time of day and the season. There are always surprises in store for the visitor. Enjoy your visit… A new life is being invented… Discover the Parc 2015 OFFICE DE TOURISME D’ARLES Esplanade Charles de Gaulle - 13200 Arles Tel. +33 (0)4 90 18 41 20 - Fax. +33 (0)4 90 18 41 29 www.arlestourisme.com [email protected] INFORMATIONS TOURISTIQUES SUR LES BOUCHES-DU-RHôNE Bouches-du-Rhône Tourisme 13 rue Roux de Brignoles 13006 Marseille Tel. +33 (0)4 91 13 84 13 - Fax. +33 (0)4 91 33 01 82 www.visitprovence.com COMITé RéGIONAL DE TOURISME PROVENCE-ALPES-CôTE D’AZUR Maison de la région - 61, La Canebière CS 10009 - 13231 Marseille Cedex 01 Tel. +33 (0)4 91 56 47 00 - Fax. +33 (0)4 91 56 47 01 www.tourismepaca.fr OFFICE DE TOURISME DES SAINTES-MARIES-DE-LA-MER 5 avenue Van Gogh 13460 Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Tel. +33 (0)4 90 97 82 55 - Fax. +33 (0)4 90 97 71 15 www.saintesmaries.com - [email protected] OFFICE DE TOURISME PORT-SAINT-LOUIS Tour Saint-Louis - Quai Bonnardel 13230 Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône Tel. +33 (0)4 42 86 01 21 - Fax. +33 (0)4 42 86 09 77 www.portsaintlouis-tourisme.fr [email protected] Contact This document is printed on un- bleached paper, using wood from sustainably-managed forests The natural heritage Pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) The main features of the Park’s natural and cultural heritage are to be found on the map overleaf The cultural heritage Some of the Camargue’s plants (to admire, but not touch) Some of the Camargue’s animals Common scarlet-darter (Crocothemis erythraea) Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus) Pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) Sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum) Strawflower (Helichrysum stoechas) Sea lavender (Limonium narbonense) Annual Saltwort (Salicorna annua) Some advice for visitors You’re in a Regional Nature Park Help us keep the Camargue clean take your waste home ! Remember that the dunes are sensitive areas. When walking round the park, remain on the paths. Do not stray onto private property. No fires or barbecues ! Respect the wildlife, and avoid making unnecessary noise. Park only in designated areas. Between May and October, don’t forget to bring mosquito repellent, sunscreen and water. The Camargue Regional Nature Park The park is run on the basis of consultations between the authori- ties, the local people and the economic decision-makers. Its remit is to reconcile human development and nature conservation. Its multidisciplinary team is responsible for the protection of nature and the cultural heritage. It also provides facilities and information for visitors. It works to improve the quality of life of the local population, with support for agriculture and tourism. It emphasises sustainable development, and super- vises the « Parc naturel régional de Camargue » label. Some figures Three towns > Arles > Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer > Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône w Population : 10 000 w Area : 100 000 hectares w Coastline : 75 km Highest point: 4 metres above sea level ! w Animal and plant species (not including invertebrates): 5 700, of which 489 are protected, either nationally or worldwide w Migrating birds: 150 000 each year. Three quarters of France’s bird species, half of its freshwater fish spe- cies and a quarter of its plant species are to be found in the Camargue ! 2 Scamandre Regional Nature Reserve (Réserve naturelle régionale du Scamandre) This typically Mediterranean wetland is exceptio- nal in its biodiversity. A number of remarkable bird species nest close to the reception area it- self. There are 9 species of heron, and the ma- jority of France’s glossy ibises. Protected species include the European pond turtle. Syndicat Mixte de la Camargue Gardoise, Centre du Scamandre, Route des Iscles, Gallician, Vauvert - Tel. +33 (0)4 66 73 52 05 [email protected] www.camarguegardoise.com Opening times : Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Closed on bank holidays. Free admission (reservation required for groups). 4 Mas de Pin Fourcat This private domain is open to families and groups. It represents the authentic Camargue, with its herds of bulls and horses, and a myriad of birds in the marshes and ponds. Visits on hor- seback or by horse and cart. Route du Bac, CIAM, Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Tel. +33 (0)4 66 73 51 94 [email protected] www.maspinfourcat.com - www.camargue-mer.com Opening times : 8:00 to 12:00 am, and 1:30 to 5:00 pm, all year round. Reservations required. There is an admission charge. 5 The Pont de Gau bird park (Parc ornithologique de Pont de Gau) Here you can observe birds in a natural envi- ronment of 60 hectares. And there are 7 km of paths that link up the marshes, ponds, reed beds, meadowlands, salt plains and irrigation chan- nels. The diversity of habitats is matched by that of the birds themselves, both sedentary and mi- gratory, and much has been done to facilitate the observation of flamingos, herons, storks, egrets, teals, sparrows, wading birds and raptors. Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Tel. +33 (0)4 90 97 82 62 [email protected] www.parcornithologique.com Opening times : 1 April to 30 September, 9:00 am till sunset, and 1 October to 31 March, 10:00 am till sunset. There is an admission charge. The Camargue National Nature Reserve (Réserve naturelle nationale de Camargue) With its 13 000 hectares of ponds, lagoons and salt plains at the heart of the Camargue, the Camargue National Nature Reserve is among Europe’s largest wetlands. It extends out to the shore, and takes in Vaccarès lake. It is totally protected, and its visitors will discover some real trea- sures, notably 237 species of birds in pristine environments. 6 La Gacholle lighthouse (Phare de la Gacholle) One of the starting points for a tour of the sea dyke: 20 km of pathways for pedestrians or cy- clists (but not cars). Although the dunes them- selves are out of bounds, the sea is accessible via marked paths. The birds include gulls, terns and flamingos. Exhibition on the subject of the Camargue coast, and an observatory. Opening times: School holidays, public holidays and weekends, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission free 11 La Capelière Here, in natural landscapes, you will discover the fauna and flora of the Camargue in different exhibitions, and on walks with panoramic views. Authorisations for the Salin de Badon observato- ries are issued at La Capelière. Opening times : • 1 April to 30 September, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm • 1 October to 31 March, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm (except Tuesdays) • Closed on 25 December and 1 January There is an admission charge. Société Nationale de Protection de la Nature – Camargue National Reserve C 134 de Fiélouse, Arles - Tel. +33 (0)4 90 97 00 97 [email protected] - www.reserve-camargue.org 7 Flamingo reproduction site (Étang du Fangassier) For more than 20 years, the Camargue Regional Nature Park has been managing the only site in France where flamingos reproduce, at Fangas- sier, owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral. The Bureau des Guides Naturalistes, in partnership with the park, the Office de Tourisme in Arles, the Tour du Valat and the Conservatoire du Lit- toral, organises visits, during the nesting season, to one of the western Mediterranean’s largest flamingo colonies. Etang du Fangassier – Salin-de-Giraud Opening times : 1 April to 30 September. Reservations (there is an admission charge) at the Office de Tourisme, Arles : Tel. + 33 (0)4 42 86 89 77 or + 33 (0)6 95 90 70 48 - [email protected] www.guide-nature.fr 8 Domaine de la Palissade Here you will find ponds and lagoons that com- municate with the river and the sea, and unique landscapes with a rich variety of flora and fauna. The aquatic environment provides a remarkable habitat for fish: bass, eels, grey mullet, blenny, shad, lampreys. And birds are everywhere, attracted by the swarming biological life. Depending on the season there are waders, avocets, sandpipers, greenshanks, and all sorts of duck, whose are particularly nume- rous when wintering. There is also a colony of herons and egrets. The Domaine de la Palissade is the only part of the Camargue that can be visited on horseback. Nature exhibitions, discovery paths, guided visits. Salin-de-Giraud - Tel. +33 (0)4 42 86 81 28 - [email protected] www.palissade.fr - Opening times : 15 November to 28 February, Wednesday to Sunday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed on 25 December and 1 January) - Open daily the rest of the year, apart from 1 May and 11 November : 1 March to 14 June, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed on 1 January) - 15 June to 15 September, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm - 16 September to 14 November, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed on 11 November). Equestrian initiation sessions take place from the start of April to mid-November. 9 The Salt works observatory The Giraud salt works, near the mouth of the Grand Rhône, covers 6,000 hectares and pro- duces various compounds that are used by the chemical industry, including 340,000 tonnes of sodium chloride a year. The Salt works observatory is on the road between Piemanson and Salin-de-Giraud 12 The Vigueirat marshes, a National Nature Reserve (Les Marais du Vigueirat) There is a range of different landscapes : flood plains, salt plains, ponds and woods, and the Ca- margue’s largest reed beds. These natural spaces are microcosms in themselves, with thousands of birds, 4 herds of Camargue bulls and horses, 15 km of paths (sections of which are built on piles), observatories, etc. There are novel experiences for both children and adults, on foot or in horse-drawn carriages and an eco-path that is unique in France. Mas Thibert - Tel. +33 (0)4 90 98 70 91 - [email protected] www.marais-vigueirat.reserve-camargue.org. Opening times : 1 February to 7 December, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Besides free access there are guided visits (reservations necessary). 1 Musée de la Camargue This museum provides an indispensable introduc- tion to the territory, from a societal viewpoint. The permanent exhibition “Le fil de temps…le fil de l’eau” (The flow of water, the flow of time, in the Camargue) shows how, on this island formed by the Rhône and the sea, change can be deep and rapid, and people constantly have to adapt to their environment in order to live and work there. At the start of the 3.5 km discovery walk there is an observation point in wood, created by the artist Tadashi Kawamata for Marseille Provence 2013, from which the visitor can look out over the surrounding landscape. Mas du Pont de Rousty, RD 570, Arles - Tel. +33 (0)4 90 97 10 82 [email protected] - www.parc-camargue.fr. The museum is open daily except on Tuesdays : from 1 April to 30 September, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and 1:00 to 6:00 pm / 1 October to 31 March, 10:00 am to 12:30 pm and 1:00 to 5:00 pm. 3 The Château d’Avignon (Domaine départemental du Château d’Avignon) The design of the château was inspired by the historicist predilections of the belle-époque bourgeoisie. It is now a classified historic mo- nument, with a landscaped park and a late 19th-century pumping station whose machinery is still used to irrigate the former property of Louis Noilly-Prat. Visits, exhibitions, cultural events and educational activities take place throughout the year. RD 570, Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Tel. +33 (0)4 13 31 94 54 - www.chateaudavignon.fr Opening times : 1 April to 4 October, 9:45 am to 5:30 pm (closed Monday to Tuesday and on 1 May) - 5 Octobre to 31 March, open on Thurdays and Fridays, only for groups, reservation required. Free admission to the park and the outbuildings. For the château, there is an admission charge. ENGLISH 10 Musée du Riz Robert Bon, the former head of the Bongran rice factory and now the director of the Musée du Riz, unveils the mysteries of rice: its history and cultivation, how it is processed, prepared and cooked. There are documents, scale models and some unusual machines. And at the end of the visit there is an opportunity to sample some or- ganic products. Le Petit Manusclat, Le Sambuc, Arles Tel. +33 (0)6 38 16 56 90 [email protected]. Opening times : All year round, by reservation. By reservation. There is an admission charge. 13 Tour Saint Louis This tower provides an exceptional view of the Camargue, including the Saint Louis canal, the mouth of the Rhône and the salt ponds. It was built in 1737, for use as a lookout post and a lighthouse. It is now a classified historic monu- ment, and houses the Office de Tourisme, along with a permanent exhibition of the largest orni- thological collection in the Camargue, and tem- porary exhibitions. Quai Bonnardel - Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône Tel. +33 (0)4 42 86 01 21 [email protected] www.portsaintlouis-tourisme.fr Opening times : summer: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 12:00 am, and 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm. The opening hours are extended during the tourist season. There is an admission charge.

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Page 1: The natural heritage · Park only in designated areas. margue’s largest reed beds. These natural spaces Between may and October, don’t forget to bring mosquito repellent, sunscreen

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Beaches and reed beds, rice and wheat, the salt ponds and the Mediter-ranean – the Camargue

Regional Nature Park is multifarious.

Born out of a struggle between river and sea, the Camargue, in biological terms, is one of Wes-tern Europe’s richest regions, and an important stopping-off point for migratory birds as they go back and forth between Europe and Africa.

It is also France’s only nesting site for the flamin-go, its world-famous emblem. And then there are the bulls, horses, beavers, owls, gulls, terns, herons and wading birds.

The Camargue is a subtle blend of contrasts, both entrancing and ever-changing. It reveals it-self in a multitude of ways, depending on the time of day and the season. There are always surprises in store for the visitor. Enjoy your visit…

A new life is being invented…

Discoverthe Parc

2015

OffiCe de tOuriSme d’ArleSEsplanade Charles de Gaulle - 13200 Arles Tel. +33 (0)4 90 18 41 20 - Fax. +33 (0)4 90 18 41 29 www.arlestourisme.com [email protected]

infOrmAtiOnS tOuriStiqueS Sur leS BOuCheS-du-rhôneBouches-du-rhône tourisme 13 rue Roux de Brignoles 13006 Marseille Tel. +33 (0)4 91 13 84 13 - Fax. +33 (0)4 91 33 01 82 www.visitprovence.com

COmité régiOnAl de tOuriSme PrOvenCe-AlPeS-Côte d’AzurMaison de la région - 61, La Canebière CS 10009 - 13231 Marseille Cedex 01 Tel. +33 (0)4 91 56 47 00 - Fax. +33 (0)4 91 56 47 01 www.tourismepaca.fr

OffiCe de tOuriSme deS SAinteS-mArieS-de-lA-mer5 avenue Van Gogh 13460 Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer Tel. +33 (0)4 90 97 82 55 - Fax. +33 (0)4 90 97 71 15 www.saintesmaries.com - [email protected]

OffiCe de tOuriSme POrt-SAint-lOuiSTour Saint-Louis - Quai Bonnardel 13230 Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône Tel. +33 (0)4 42 86 01 21 - Fax. +33 (0)4 42 86 09 77 www.portsaintlouis-tourisme.fr [email protected]

Co

nta

ct

This document is printed on un-bleached paper, using wood from sustainably-managed forests

The natural heritage

Pond turtle (Emys orbicularis)

The main features of the Park’s natural and cultural heritage are to be found on the map overleaf

The cultural heritage

Some of the Camargue’s plants(to admire, but not touch)

Some of the Camargue’s animals

Common scarlet-darter (Crocothemis erythraea)

Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus)

Pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)

Sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum)

Strawflower (Helichrysum stoechas)

Sea lavender (Limonium narbonense)

Annual Saltwort(Salicorna annua)

Some advice for visitorsYou’re in a Regional Nature Park

help us keep the Camargue cleantake your waste home !

remember that the dunes are sensitive areas.

When walking round the park, remain on the paths. do not stray onto private property.

no fires or barbecues !

respect the wildlife, and avoid making unnecessary noise.

Park only in designated areas.

Between may and October, don’t forget to bring mosquito repellent, sunscreen and water.

The Camargue Regional Nature Park

The park is run on the basis of consultations between the authori-ties, the local people and the economic decision-makers. Its remit is to reconcile human development and nature conservation.

Its multidisciplinary team is responsible for the protection of nature and the cultural heritage. It also provides facilities and information for visitors.

It works to improve the quality of life of the local population, with support for agriculture and tourism. It emphasises sustainable development, and super-vises the « Parc naturel régional de Camargue » label.

Some figuresthree towns > Arles > les Saintes-maries-de-la-mer > Port-Saint-louis-du-rhône

w Population : 10 000w Area : 100 000 hectaresw Coastline : 75 kmHighest point: 4 metres above sea level !

w Animal and plant species (not including invertebrates): 5 700, of which 489 are protected, either nationally or worldwide

w migrating birds: 150 000 each year. Three quarters of France’s bird species, half of its freshwater fish spe-cies and a quarter of its plant species are to be found in the Camargue !

2 Scamandre Regional Nature Reserve(Réserve naturelle régionale du Scamandre)

This typically Mediterranean wetland is exceptio-nal in its biodiversity. A number of remarkable bird species nest close to the reception area it-self. There are 9 species of heron, and the ma-jority of France’s glossy ibises. Protected species include the European pond turtle.

Syndicat mixte de la Camargue gardoise, Centre du Scamandre, route des iscles, gallician, vauvert - tel. +33 (0)4 66 73 52 05 [email protected] www.camarguegardoise.com

Opening times : tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Closed on bank holidays. free admission (reservation required for groups).

4 Mas de Pin FourcatThis private domain is open to families and groups. It represents the authentic Camargue, with its herds of bulls and horses, and a myriad of birds in the marshes and ponds. Visits on hor-seback or by horse and cart.

route du Bac, CiAm, les Saintes-maries-de-la-mer tel. +33 (0)4 66 73 51 94 [email protected] www.maspinfourcat.com - www.camargue-mer.com Opening times : 8:00 to 12:00 am, and 1:30 to

5:00 pm, all year round. reservations required. there is an admission charge.

5 The Pont de Gau bird park (Parc ornithologique de Pont de Gau)

Here you can observe birds in a natural envi-ronment of 60 hectares. And there are 7 km of paths that link up the marshes, ponds, reed beds, meadowlands, salt plains and irrigation chan-nels. The diversity of habitats is matched by that of the birds themselves, both sedentary and mi-gratory, and much has been done to facilitate the observation of flamingos, herons, storks, egrets, teals, sparrows, wading birds and raptors.

les Saintes-maries-de-la-mer tel. +33 (0)4 90 97 82 62 [email protected] www.parcornithologique.com Opening times : 1 April to 30 September, 9:00

am till sunset, and 1 October to 31 march, 10:00 am till sunset. there is an admission charge.

The Camargue National Nature Reserve (Réserve naturelle nationale de Camargue)

With its 13 000 hectares of ponds, lagoons and salt plains at the heart of the Camargue, the Camargue national nature reserve is among europe’s largest wetlands. it extends out to the shore, and takes in vaccarès lake. it is totally protected, and its visitors will discover some real trea-sures, notably 237 species of birds in pristine environments.

6 La Gacholle lighthouse(Phare de la Gacholle)

One of the starting points for a tour of the sea dyke: 20 km of pathways for pedestrians or cy-clists (but not cars). Although the dunes them-selves are out of bounds, the sea is accessible via marked paths. The birds include gulls, terns and flamingos. Exhibition on the subject of the Camargue coast, and an observatory.

Opening times: School holidays, public holidays and weekends, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission free

11 La CapelièreHere, in natural landscapes, you will discover the fauna and flora of the Camargue in different exhibitions, and on walks with panoramic views. Authorisations for the Salin de Badon observato-ries are issued at La Capelière.

Opening times : • 1 April to 30 September, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm • 1 October to 31 march, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm (except tuesdays) • Closed on 25 december and 1 January there is an admission charge.

Société nationale de Protection de la nature – Camargue national reserve C 134 de fiélouse, Arles - tel. +33 (0)4 90 97 00 97 [email protected] - www.reserve-camargue.org

7 Flamingo reproduction site (Étang du Fangassier)

For more than 20 years, the Camargue Regional Nature Park has been managing the only site in France where flamingos reproduce, at Fangas-sier, owned by the Conservatoire du Littoral. The Bureau des Guides Naturalistes, in partnership with the park, the Office de Tourisme in Arles, the Tour du Valat and the Conservatoire du Lit-toral, organises visits, during the nesting season, to one of the western Mediterranean’s largest flamingo colonies.

etang du fangassier – Salin-de-giraud Opening times : 1 April to 30 September.

reservations (there is an admission charge) at the Office de tourisme, Arles : tel. + 33 (0)4 42 86 89 77 or + 33 (0)6 95 90 70 48 - [email protected] www.guide-nature.fr 8 Domaine de la Palissade

Here you will find ponds and lagoons that com-municate with the river and the sea, and unique landscapes with a rich variety of flora and fauna. The aquatic environment provides a remarkable habitat for fish: bass, eels, grey mullet, blenny, shad, lampreys. And birds are everywhere, attracted by the swarming biological life. Depending on the season there are waders, avocets, sandpipers, greenshanks, and all sorts of duck, whose are particularly nume-

rous when wintering. There is also a colony of herons and egrets. The Domaine de la Palissade is the only part of the Camargue that can be visited on horseback. Nature exhibitions, discovery paths, guided visits.

Salin-de-giraud - tel. +33 (0)4 42 86 81 28 - [email protected] www.palissade.fr - Opening times : 15 november to 28 february, Wednesday to Sunday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed on 25 december and 1 January) - Open daily the rest of the year, apart from 1 may and 11 november : 1 march to 14 June, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed on 1 January) - 15 June to 15 September, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm - 16 September to 14 november, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed on 11 november). equestrian initiation sessions take place from the start of April to mid-november.

9 The Salt works observatoryThe Giraud salt works, near the mouth of the Grand Rhône, covers 6,000 hectares and pro-duces various compounds that are used by the chemical industry, including 340,000 tonnes of sodium chloride a year.

the Salt works observatory is on the road between Piemanson and Salin-de-giraud

12 The Vigueirat marshes, a National Nature Reserve (Les Marais du Vigueirat)

There is a range of different landscapes : flood plains, salt plains, ponds and woods, and the Ca-margue’s largest reed beds. These natural spaces are microcosms in themselves, with thousands of birds, 4 herds of Camargue bulls and horses, 15 km of paths (sections of which are built on piles), observatories, etc. There are novel experiences for both children and adults, on foot or in horse-drawn carriages and an eco-path that is unique in France.

mas thibert - tel. +33 (0)4 90 98 70 91 - [email protected] www.marais-vigueirat.reserve-camargue.org. Opening times : 1 february to 7 december, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Besides free access there are guided visits (reservations necessary).

1 Musée de la CamargueThis museum provides an indispensable introduc-tion to the territory, from a societal viewpoint. The permanent exhibition “Le fil de temps…le fil de l’eau” (The flow of water, the flow of time, in the Camargue) shows how, on this island formed by the Rhône and the sea, change can be deep and rapid, and people constantly have to adapt to their environment in order to live and work there. At the start of the 3.5 km discovery walk there is an observation point in wood, created by the artist Tadashi Kawamata for Marseille Provence 2013,

from which the visitor can look out over the surrounding landscape.

mas du Pont de rousty, rd 570, Arles - tel. +33 (0)4 90 97 10 82 [email protected] - www.parc-camargue.fr. the museum is open daily except on tuesdays : from 1 April to 30 September, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and 1:00 to 6:00 pm / 1 October to 31 march, 10:00 am to 12:30 pm and 1:00 to 5:00 pm.

3 The Château d’Avignon (Domaine départemental du Château d’Avignon)

The design of the château was inspired by the historicist predilections of the belle-époque bourgeoisie. It is now a classified historic mo-nument, with a landscaped park and a late 19th-century pumping station whose machinery is still used to irrigate the former property of Louis Noilly-Prat. Visits, exhibitions, cultural events and educational activities take place throughout the year.

rd 570, les Saintes-maries-de-la-mer tel. +33 (0)4 13 31 94 54 - www.chateaudavignon.fr Opening times : 1 April to 4 October, 9:45 am to 5:30 pm (closed monday to tuesday and on 1 may) - 5 Octobre to 31 march, open on thurdays and fridays, only for groups, reservation required. free admission to the park and the outbuildings. for the château, there is an admission charge.

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10 Musée du RizRobert Bon, the former head of the Bongran rice factory and now the director of the Musée du Riz, unveils the mysteries of rice: its history and cultivation, how it is processed, prepared and cooked. There are documents, scale models and some unusual machines. And at the end of the visit there is an opportunity to sample some or-ganic products.

le Petit manusclat, le Sambuc, Arles tel. +33 (0)6 38 16 56 90 [email protected]. Opening times : All year round, by reservation. By reservation. there is an admission charge.

13 Tour Saint LouisThis tower provides an exceptional view of the Camargue, including the Saint Louis canal, the mouth of the Rhône and the salt ponds. It was built in 1737, for use as a lookout post and a lighthouse. It is now a classified historic monu-ment, and houses the Office de Tourisme, along with a permanent exhibition of the largest orni-thological collection in the Camargue, and tem-porary exhibitions.

quai Bonnardel - Port-Saint-louis-du-rhône tel. +33 (0)4 42 86 01 21 [email protected]

www.portsaintlouis-tourisme.fr Opening times : summer: monday to friday, 9:00 am to 12:00 am, and 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm. the opening hours are extended during the tourist season.there is an admission charge.

Page 2: The natural heritage · Park only in designated areas. margue’s largest reed beds. These natural spaces Between may and October, don’t forget to bring mosquito repellent, sunscreen

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