What does the Camargue symbol mean?

The cross of the gardians is the symbol of the Camargue. It features prominently on many local buildings and monuments. This cross, also known as the "croix camarguaise" or "croix de Camargue", features a motif made up of 3 shapes. What do they mean? The Camargue's appeal lies not only in its magnificent landscapes, horses, bulls and pink flamingos. It also lies in its historical and cultural roots. This sparsely populated region is home to a wealth of ancient sites, traditions and folklore. One of the highlights of this folklore is the Camargue cross. Today, this symbol represents the very essence of this unique place in the world, but what about its history?

The history of the Camargue cross

According to departmental archives, the cross was created in 1926 at the request of Marquis Folco de Baroncelli to represent the "Camargue nation" of gardians and fishermen. Hermann-Paul, a Camargue painter, designed the symbol. The first cross was produced by Joseph Barbanson, a blacksmith from Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. The cross was inaugurated the same year in the presence of numerous personalities of the time. Among them was Maguy Hugo, the famous writer's granddaughter.

Where to find this typical Camargue symbol

In 1926, the cross was inaugurated opposite the current "Grand Large" building. Since then, it has been moved to Pont du Mort. And the Camargue cross has meanwhile become one of the region's most representative emblems. It first appeared on the Camargue coat of arms, with a bull's head. It can be found almost everywhere in the Camargue, notably on public buildings and monuments. It can be found near the Mas du Simbeú, where Folco de Baroncelli lived. Or on the walls of the church at Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. She can also be seen on the forecourt of the Basilica of Marseille, nicknamed "La Bonne Mère", where she watches over the Mediterranean.

Since then, it has become a popular symbol in souvenir stores, and can be found in jewelry, wall crosses...

Discover the hidden meaning of this symbol of the Camargue

The motif of the Camargue cross is quite simple, but to help you fully understand its meaning, here's a quick deciphering of its constituent elements. The 3 shapes found on the Camargue cross have a very specific meaning. They symbolize the essence of the Camargue: water, earth and sky.

Water: a sea anchor representing hope

The first symbol of this Camargue cross is the anchor, which "carries" the other elements. It is as much a reference to the fishermen's anchor as it is to the anchor of the early Christians. It is thus a religious symbol, closely linked to the heritage of the Camargue.

The earth: a heart representing charity

The central part of the cross is filled with a heart, the symbol of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. This heart is that of the saints, but also of Jesus, the object of a powerful cult in Provence.

The sky: tridents representing faith

Finally, the upper part of the cross ends in tridents at each of its three extremities. As you may have guessed, this is a way of symbolizing the trinity, a symbol extremely present in Christian worship. But it's also a reference to the tridents, crucial to the herding of horses by the gardians. As you can see, this symbol of the Camargue reveals the intertwining of all the strong elements of our beautiful region. What if you came to enjoy this beautiful nature, filled

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