Beyond the Tourist Trail: The 17th Festival of The Camargue
May 28 - June 1, 2025
The Wild Heart of Southern France
Camargue Cross
Europe's Last Wild Frontier: Five Days That Will Change How You See France
Forget the manicured gardens of Versailles and the picture-perfect villages of the Luberon. The 17th Festival of The Camargue offers something far more intriguing: access to France's untamed soul.
This is where white horses gallop through mist-shrouded marshes and flamingos create improbable pink clouds against sapphire skies. For five days, this fiercely protected delta opens its secrets to those curious enough to venture beyond the typical Provençal itinerary.
“The Camargue remains one of Europe’s last genuinely wild landscapes – a place where nature still holds the upper hand. The festival strips away the velvet rope, allowing visitors intimate access to places normally reserved for researchers and conservationists.”
The Details You Need
When: Wednesday, May 28 - Sunday, June 1, 2025
Hours: 9:00 AM until the light fades (generally around 8:00 PM)
Where: Multiple venues across the Camargue – your adventure will take you from Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
Access: Passes available through the official site – book early for the limited-capacity dawn excursions
Why This Isn't Just Another Nature Festival
While Paris drowns in spring tourists, those in the know head south. The Festival of The Camargue has evolved from a modest local celebration into a sophisticated exploration of one of Europe's most complex ecosystems – without sacrificing authenticity or edge.
The 2025 edition embraces the contradiction at the heart of the Camargue: a place simultaneously wild yet cultivated, ancient yet adaptable, remote yet increasingly vulnerable to global influences.
What Sets This Experience Apart
Forget standard tourist fare – the festival curates experiences that defy expectations:
Predawn Salt Flat Expeditions – Witness crystalline landscapes bathed in surreal pink light while flamingos feed
Underground Film Showcase – Environmental documentaries too provocative for mainstream distribution
Chef-Led Foraging – Gather wild ingredients before a master class in delta-to-table cooking
Scientific Immersions – Join researchers tagging migratory birds or sampling microorganisms
Twilight Photography Masterclasses – Capture the delta's extraordinary light with expert guidance
Foraging
The Camargue offers a diverse range of items for foraging, thanks to its unique mix of salt marshes, wetlands, coastal areas, and scrubland. Here are some items that might be foraged in the Camargue region:
Salt Marsh and Coastal Plants
Salicornia (sea beans/samphire) - A succulent salt-tolerant plant with a crisp texture and naturally salty flavor
Sea purslane - Fleshy leaves with a salty taste used in salads or as a cooked green
Sea fennel - Has a flavor similar to regular fennel but with saltier notes
Glasswort - Another salt-tolerant succulent used in traditional dishes
Freshwater Marsh Areas
Cattail shoots - The young shoots can be eaten like asparagus
Reed rhizomes - The underground stems can be processed for starch
Wild watercress - Found in freshwater sections with clean water flow
Herbs and Aromatics
Wild thyme - Grows in drier areas of the Camargue
Rosemary - Found in the scrubland regions
Wild garlic - Grows in seasons with sufficient moisture
Bay leaves - From wild laurel trees in certain areas
Fruits and Berries
Sea buckthorn - Bright orange berries high in vitamin C
Blackberries - Found in less saline areas with good soil
Wild strawberries - In woodland edges and clearings
Sloe berries - From blackthorn bushes in scrubland areas
Fungi
Salt marsh mushrooms - Specialty varieties that have adapted to saline conditions
Wood blewits - Found in wooded areas during autumn
These foraged items are often incorporated into traditional Camargue cuisine or used by innovative chefs creating dishes that showcase the unique terroir of the region. The balance of salt, freshwater, and Mediterranean influences creates distinctive flavors not found elsewhere.
Any foraging activity should be done responsibly, with proper knowledge of the species, permission where needed, and respect for protected areas within the Camargue National Park.
The Camargue Decoded: 930km² of Raw, Untamed Delta
Between the twin arms of the Rhône lies a 930km² anomaly in hyper-civilized France – a place where centuries of careful negotiation between humans, animals and water has created something extraordinary.
This is Western Europe's largest river delta, a maze of salt flats, reed beds, rice paddies, and marshes. It's a place defined by its contradictions: simultaneously parched and sodden, cultivated yet feral, ancient but constantly evolving.
The Inhabitants That Make It Exceptional
The Camargue hosts life you won't find elsewhere in Europe:
The White Horses – Not truly wild, but semi-feral equines managed through centuries-old techniques
Greater Flamingos – Up to 20,000 pairs breed here in good years, creating surreal pink landscapes
Black Bulls – Raised for the distinctive course camarguaise, a non-lethal form of bullfighting
Salt-Adapted Flora – Plants that thrive in conditions that would kill most vegetation
The Guardians – The human element: cowboys who maintain traditions dating back to the Middle Ages
The Protected Status You're Benefiting From
Since 2008, the region has been designated as the Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue, ensuring its preservation through sustainable management. This designation makes events like the festival possible while protecting against overdevelopment.
Five Unmissable Experiences at the 2025 Festival
Where the Discerning Stay
While many festival-goers crowd into accommodations in Arles or Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, the savvier choice is to stay at La Flânerie in Euzet-les-Bains.
Not only can you escape the festival crowds, but you'll be perfectly positioned to combine your Camargue visits with exploring the dramatic landscapes of the nearby Cévennes National Park – two extraordinary ecosystems in one thoughtfully planned trip.
La Flânerie in Euzet-les-Bains offers the perfect counterpoint to days spent in the wild:
An artfully restored sanctuary dating to the 1700s, where heritage and sophistication complement each other perfectly
Just 15km from the charming market town of Uzès
75 minutes from the Camargue (close enough for day trips, far enough for perspective)
At the foothils of The Cévennes
Self-contained privacy with sophisticated design sensibilities
Enjoy preferential rates at La Flânerie: five nights or more outside peak season
3★ Meublé Tourisme Certified
Essential Resources
This insider's guide was crafted by Gaby Martin, proprietor of La Flânerie and long-time advocate for authentic regional experiences around Uzès and Southern France.
Last updated: March 1, 2025.
