THE CAMARGUE

The Camargue evolved from the southern Rhône river delta, where the river meets the sea: a unique environmental balance in one of Europe’s largest ecological reserves. We film pink flamingos returning to breed each year, alongside introduced rice growing and a large scale industrial production of salt.

The stocky white horse of the Camargue is one of the most ancient breeds of horse surviving today. With the Gardians, and the people from neighboring Arles dressed in regional costumes, we see festivities and traditional customs recalling their past. The black bull features strongly in the Camargue identity; some bred especially for the course à la cocarde.

The Gypsies of France make Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer a holy centre for their annual religious celebrations. We trace the origin of the gypsies and  their belief in Saint Sarah the gypsy saint, and explain why the Church of Saintes-Maries is such a major gathering for pilgrimage today. Lively gypsy music entertains the crowds.

We visit the medieval city of Aigues-Mortes, the Crusaders’ port for the 7^th Crusade. Saddles identical to the Crusaders’ saddles of the 13^th century are being hand-made. Finally, a spectacular demonstration of medieval falconry in the grounds of the Castle of Beaucaire, close to the original Beaucaire Fair, embodies the spirit of the Middle Ages.

• Evolution of the Rhône River delta, the Camargue
• The white Camargue horse and the Fête du Cheval
• Camargue bulls bred for the traditional bullfight, the course à la cocarde
• Gardians of the Camargue and their cabanes
• Arles the capital, its Fête des Gardians and Fête du Costume
• Interview with Mme Jeanne Calment, 122 years old
• Saintes-Maries de la Mer and the ceremony of the two holy Marys
• Origin of the Gypsies and their annual pilgrimage to worship black Saint Sarah
• The Camargue Natural Reserve where the pink flamingo nests
• Rice growing and history of the production of salt in the Camargue
• Aigues-Mortes the Crusader port. The Crusader’s saddle and a saddle maker
• The Beaucaire Fair and falconry of the Middle Ages