Saintes-Maries-De-La-Mer: Camargue, Culture and Hotels

Saintes-Maries-De-La-Mer lies between the Rhône and the Mediterranean. The entire commune is located within the Camargue Regional Nature Park and is classified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This designation applies to the commune as a whole; individual trails and cultural sites, by contrast, relate to specific places or sections.

Church, History and Crypt

Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer is a Romanesque-Provençal church dating from the 12th century. At the beginning of the 14th century, it was fortified and served as a refuge for the local population. Its construction and later fortification belong to different historical periods: the church combines a Romanesque-Provençal classification with a later protective function for the population. The roof can be reached from the outside via a spiral staircase with 53 steps. The statue of Sara and her relics are housed in the crypt. The roof access and the crypt represent two different aspects of the building: an exterior climb on the one hand, and the religious connection to Sara on the other.

Traditions and Museum

The Festo Vierginenco brings together several local traditions. The program includes a Mass in Provençal, a procession of the young women with their godmothers and mounted Gardians, the presentation of diplomas, the blessing of foals in the arenas, and equestrian games. Saintes-Maries-De-La-Mer is the only village to preserve and continue this tradition. The Mass and blessing of the foals provide religious elements; the procession, diplomas and equestrian games add to the program’s ceremonial and equestrian character.

The Musée des Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer offers another way to explore local and regional history. Its ethnographic collections focus on the figure of the Marquis de Baroncelli and the traditions of the Camargue. The museum also presents the maritime history of the Camargue coast through numerous underwater excavations. The festival and museum thus differ in focus: the festival centers on traditional ceremonies and equestrian games, while the museum focuses on its collections and maritime history.

Marked Trails and Camargue Connections

One specific route option is clearly defined: after three kilometers on marked trails, La Digue à la Mer leads into the area of the Réserve nationale de Camargue. This distance refers to that section and its destination, not to the commune as a whole. It complements the commune’s location within the Regional Nature Park and its Biosphere Reserve classification with a specific route.

The Maison du Cheval Camargue is located at Mas de la Cure, within the commune of Saintes-Maries-De-La-Mer and the Camargue Regional Nature Park. Mas de la Cure was formerly an agricultural estate belonging to the Château d’Avignon. Here, the site’s location within the present-day commune and nature park combines with the estate’s former agricultural use.

Discover more destinations: Fuveau, Mollégès, Le Grau-Du-Roi, Peynier, Les-Pennes-Mirabeau, Carry-Le-Rouet, Salon-De-Provence, Maillane.

For the broader travel overview: Bouches Du Rhone.