Want to know more about the Camargue? 

It’s Provence’s marshland. The Rhône River ends 800 kilometres from its glacial source in Valais, Switzerland, as it reaches the Mediterranean Sea. Like a wide yawn, the two branches of the Rhône – the Grande Rhône and the Petit Rhône – empty their watery cargo at the mouth of the river. This area of Provence known as the Camargue, part of the Bouches du Rhône (mouths of the Rhône), is Europe’s largest river delta (930 square km) and a wetland of significant size.

Horses of the Camargue

The white horse of the Camargue region is also quite an interesting story in that they effectively roam free from birth until the age of three. As yearlings, they are also branded with the owner’s brand; they are then separated from their mothers and set free into the marshes to grow and change colour. Unique to the breed is that they are born dark in colour, and as they mature at age 4 or 5, they attain the grey-white colour, which signifies the Camrague region horse. The horse tends to be large-limbed but small in stature, with enormous heads for their size and has a coat deemed grey/white when fully matured.  At three years, they are finally corralled. At this point, they are neck reigned, making them easier to ride, as the rider or gardian should only need one hand to control them properly. Only the male horses are tamed and get broken in, while the mares are typically bred for reproduction.

Bulls of the Camargue

The Camargue bull is unique in that its environment largely shapes it. Jet black in part to deal with the region’s heat.  The bulls live in herds called “manades,” Small in stature, its head and body are quite slight, but its horns are massive, they rise up straight pointed to the sky. The breed has never been able to be domesticated, the primary use for these animals is for bullfighting events. These bulls are bred to fight and work intermittently. Branding only occurs once the cows and bulls are yearlings, so North American branding techniques would be tough to follow. These bulls are for bullfighting, bull running (along “courses à la cocarde”), and other rituals. These bulls have become a symbolic representation of power and the strength of life, they have gained reverence and importance in the community as to reflect the heritage of times past.

Read more about the Camargue, the town of Aigues Mortes, and the salt flats.

Food Travel Tags:
Camargue, Camargue Horse, Explore Provence