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Placed by the mouth of the Petit Rhone, on the Mediterranean Sea, the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer are the heart of historical Camargue. Caught between sand beaches and Camarguese ponds, it turns out to be all-year long a most pleasant, peaceful and original place to stay, and a privileged summer spot for holidays on the shore. The Saintes-Maries are also well-known due to its thalassotherapy centers. This little town of 2500 souls lives on the rhythm of seasons and pilgrimages. The tradition tells us that this is where the four Saints came from the sea, who christianized the Camargue : the three Saint Marys and Saint-Sarah, also known as Sarah-the-Black, patron saint to the Gipsies. A fortified church from the XI-XIIth Centuries was built there in dedication to them, nowadays surrounded by most picturesque shrunk white alleys. The church is the yearly destination of pilgrimages for Christians, in May and October, and especially Gipsies. To this occasion, in May, the town is lightened up and dances in guitar rhythms, and the idol of Saint-Sarah is pulled out from the sea, reminding us her coming onto the Camargue land. As a very typical Camarguese town, the Saintes-Maries have an own arena for “courses camarguaises”, and ponds where magnificent processions of pink flamingos often stay, for instance in front of the Hotel L'Estelle... In a much different style, you may also find in the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer a funboard spot specifically structured to reach speed records. Site : L'Office de Tourisme des Saintes-Maries-de-la-Merhttp://www.saintesmaries.com |
