Explore the pink salt lakes
In the Camargue you will find two big pink salt lakes, which are used for the production of salt. It turns out that the Camargue produces the most salt in Europe. The two lakes are located near the towns Aigues-Mortes & Salin de Giraud. Salin de Giraud is a must visit. It is not touristic at all. These plains are private land so you can only enter the plains with a permit. But there is a viewpoint nearby. From here you can see the lakes from a higher perspective and that gives you a good impression of the colorful plains.
The perfect conditions to spot this phenomenon are a high salt concentration in the water, pink algae and heat. These conditions are also the perfect living conditions for flamingos. They often parade around in groups and they completely match with the pink environment. We arrived early at the salt lakes. At that time, the water was not intensely pink. When the sun shines more brightly and the water warms up, the pink color becomes visible.
Spot birds in Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau
The Camargue is known for its beautiful nature and wildlife. The best way to spot the animals up close, is to visit Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau. Many exotic birds live in this park. The narrow, overgrown paths and bird watching huts allow you to photograph the most beautiful (shy) animals unnoticed. We spotted low flying flamingos, the white Camargue horses and beavers, who were floating among the birds.
With a ticket you have access to the park all day long. Check the website of Ornithological Park of Pont de Gau for current prices and opening times.
Visit Aigues-Mortes
Aigues-Mortes is surrounded by walls and gates. You can climb the walls to enjoy the city view. The coolest thing about Aiges-Mortes is that it is located directly at one of the gigantic pink salt lakes Les Salins du Midi. Which you can admire from the top of the walls. The city itself has a cozy center, with cute squares where you can enjoy a lunch break on one of the many terraces. The city is filled with creativity. Take a look at the ateliers and unique boutiques, but be careful because you really want to buy everything.
Discover the Camargue during sunrise
Be sure to set your alarm early. The sunrise in the Camargue is breathtaking. Find a nice open spot to stop and wait for the daylight to come. When the sun starts to rise, the sky turns bright orange and yellow. The animal kingdom awakes, the birds begin to chirp and flocks of birds flying past the horizon. In the endless fields, the white Camargue horses start grazing and the first rays of the sun touch their wild manes. The bulls also begin to moo and cross the fields.
Drive around in Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue
You will come across many beautiful and secret places in the Camargue, such as infinite grain-, sunflower- and rice fields, cute local villages and farms. Despite the fact that there are a few roads through the park – which you can drive through for hours – you do have to know where to find the best spots. If you don’t want to miss one of them, you can download our route with all the pretty spots that are definitely worth a visit.
Let’s Explore the Camargue
Want to experience more of the Camargue? Watch our video of our road trip through the South of France; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybcJMHH5Vjo
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