The "sansouires", Camargue steppes with salty soil

The Parc naturel de Camargue covers over 100,000 hectares around the Rhône delta. This exceptional natural territory boasts a rich biodiversity and a wide variety of landscapes. The sansouire is one of the emblematic landscapes of the region, and more specifically of the Basse Camargue.

What is a sansouire?

The sansouire is a silty ecosystem, silt being a deposit of fine particles on a river bed under the influence of water movement. These ecosystems form in delta zones, such as the Rhône delta, where salt water is present. The sansouire looks like a meadow, but it can be flooded. Also known as pre-salé, sansouire is a very salty, grass-covered environment. The grasses that grow there are therefore halophilic plants: plants that thrive in very salty environments.

The flora and fauna of a sansouire wetland

Because the sansouire is a very salty environment, only a few species can thrive there. The main plant species found in sansouires are glasswort, soda ash - which was once used to make soap! -and saladelle - or sea lavender.

Sansouires are areas with very little vegetation. For this reason, they do not support many animal species. The fauna of a sansouire is essentially made up of birds. 

In winter, when the sansouires are flooded, ducks and waders such as teal and mallard can be seen. When the water level drops, limicolous species - birds that live and feed in the mud - take up residence: egrets and avocets, among others. 

In summer, when the sansouires are drier, they are populated by nesting birds such as the spring wagtail, uninterrupted ring-necked gravelot, skylark and spectacled warbler.

L'Auberge Cavalière du Pont des Bannes, your base for visiting the Camargue

To discover the emblematic landscapes of the Rhône delta, choose a hotel in the heart of the Camargue nature reserve. The Auberge Cavalière du Pont des Bannes is right in the middle of the nature reserve, in the commune of Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. This 4-star accommodation allows you to enjoy, in exceptional comfort, all that the Camargue region has to offer.

Our hotel, located not far from the most beautiful sansouires in the Camargue, offers you the unique opportunity to sleep in an authentic gardian's hut, or in a luxury room with all modern comforts. The Auberge Cavalière du Pont des Bannes is set in the heart of a 4-hectare estate where you'll find plenty to keep you entertained during your stay: a luxury infrastructure, numerous activities and horse and carriage rides.

Come to the Camargue and discover the diversity of the local landscapes while enjoying a multitude ofleisure and outdoor activities.

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