Rental PRIVATE OWNERS Saintes Maries de la Mer : 

Sea, festivities, Camargue traditions, magnificent panoramas and authenticity make the village of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer one of the most popular destinations in the Bouches-du-Rhône.

A small fishing village with white houses, in the heart of the wonderful and oh so precious Camargue, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is THE perfect seaside resort where to put down your suitcases for a total immersion in the traditions of Provence. High place of pilgrimage for gypsies, this family destination is above all full of assets, starting with its heritage. Rich of a very ancient and religious history, it would have been born in the Gallo-Roman period before becoming much more important during the 19th century. Impossible to visit the village without stopping at the Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer church: this fortress, built in the 12th century and fortified in the 15th century, is the major building of the commune. Formerly guardian of the relics of the saints, it impresses by its high chapel, which looks like a dungeon, surrounded by a defensive covered way from which one could formerly watch out for barbarian invasions. The treasure of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is its Black Madonna, Sara, Patron Saint of the Gypsies, whom they celebrate every year in processions to the sea. These pilgrimages are emblematic of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer: organised on 24 and 25 May and at the end of October in honour of the Maries, they each time bring together thousands of travellers, who sometimes come from all over the world to pay homage to "Sara La Noire". The votive festival in June, the Horse Fair in July, but also the Abrivado festival and the bull releases in December also punctuate the life of the town.

As for heritage, the visit doesn't stop there since the Château d'Avignon is also worth the detour: built during the 19th century and since listed as a Historic Monument, this beautiful neo-Renaissance building has flourished in the middle of the green vineyards of the town. An artistic mecca, it hosts numerous exhibitions throughout the year and is worth a visit both for the splendour of the latter and for its typical architecture. Want to learn more about local traditions? Heading for the Museum and the House of the Marquis of Baroncelli; with its documents, its exhibitions of Camargue furniture and its rich fauna, it is the perfect place for a total immersion in the traditions of the country. Also take time to stroll through the village, through its cobbled streets full of history, to discover the splendour of the architecture of its houses, the arenas, Ben K's sculpture entitled "Camargue", the Mas de Méjanes or the Paul Ricard estate located just next to the Vaccarès pond. Particularly pleasant, you will be able to go horseback riding, have lunch there, hike or visit the place thanks to a small tourist train. On the nature side, the manades, the salt marshes, but also the reed fields as far as the eye can see, the marshes filled with pink flamingos or horses, the dunes, the Gacholle lighthouse and the bull pastures lined by cycling or walking routes will allow you to discover all the uniqueness of this unique site.

The other facet of this diamond that is the village of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is its coastline. Very lively in the summer period but just as pleasant outside the tourist season, it offers its visitors several immense white sandy beaches overlooking the warm waters of the Mediterranean. The Amphoras beach, the Arènes beach, the East beach, the Crin Blanc beach or the Clos du Rhône beach will be ideal for your lazy breaks, or to practice water activities such as windsurfing, kitesurfing, paddle or surfing.