Where to see the bulls in Camargue...

The bull is one of the clichés that comes to mind when we think of the Camargue. Just like the pink flamingo, or the many other birds that can be found there. In France, the bull is an animal found only in the south, and particularly in the Camargue. You'll have the chance to get up close and personal with them if you come to our beautiful region. But where can you see Camargue bulls? 

Bulls in the Camargue

No, we won't be talking about gardiane de taureau, the typical Camargue dish served in our restaurants. But this dish reveals our culture: animals raised in semi-liberty are an integral part of our traditions.

The Camargue bull or "raço di biou" has existed since Gallo-Roman times. The breed has even been the subject of cross-breeding to reconstitute the auroch. You'll have to admit that this introduction makes you want to watch semi-wild bulls running free in a Camargue landscape, won't you?

But where to see them? Here are 3 tips for spotting them during your visit.

Where to see the bulls in Camargue

First tip: observe them in the wild

As mentioned above, Camargue bulls are raised in semi-liberty. They are bred throughout the irrigated Camargue area. Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, located in the greater Camargue region, is a perfect place to observe them.

To meet them, explore the rice paddies, marshes and salt flats. And to have time to see them without scaring them off, we recommend a bike ride, horseback ride or even a canoe or boat trip. In a land of horses, bulls and flamingos, this is the best way to discover the flora and fauna of the Camargue.

Second tip: visit a manade

Like horses, Camargue bulls are herded into manades, groups of domesticated animals living in the wild. These manades are managed and run by manadiers and gardians. In 2015, there were between 10,000 and 12,000 cattle in the Camargue, spread across some 100 manades.

And the village of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is surrounded by numerous manades. Our hotel works closely with the Manade des Baumelles, which we highly recommend. Here you can watch Camargue horse and bull shows, gardian games, coursejade and ferrade. 

Last tip: meet the bulls during an impressive traditional ritual

There is a misconception that Camargue bulls are put to death in games similar to bullfighting. This is an amalgam between Spanish culture and our own. This is far from the case. In Camargue racing, young bulls are chased solely by "raseteurs". Their aim? To catch the cocarde, the acorn and the strings worn by the bull - in Camargue, many terms enrich the vocabulary around the bull. To sum up the Provençal vision of this animal, Camargue racing is a sport in which the man is never cheered: only the animal! This is reflected in the way both bulls and horses are bred: their freedom is paramount wherever possible.

The Camargue is also famous for its Abrivades: a time when manadiers and gardians bring the "cocardier" bulls to the arena. They block the bulls in the middle of hundreds of horses. For Les-Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, the event takes on monumental proportions, with 10,000 Camargue horses brought together for the occasion.

And speaking of bulls...

The Auberge Cavalière du Pont des Bannes is surrounded by wild bulls all year round, but we're also lucky enough to be located in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer: THE bull town.

The Abrivades 2022 - and their 10,000 horses - await you on November 11 and 12. So there's still time to book your stay if you want a complete bull-fighting experience!

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