Les Saintes Maries de la Mer
A big village that has managed to remain quiet and unspoilt...out of season! Capital of the Camargue, les Saintes Maries de la Mer is a great place for the family to walk, cycle or ride: it’s in the country, it’s safe and it’s.........flat!
- ACTIVITIES
- ACCOMODATIONS
- RESTAURANTS
- ATTRACTIONS
- EVENTS
- USEFULL
Draille des Cinq gorges
Head towards Arles by the Cacharel road and take the track to Méjanes, 50m before the Mas de Cacharel. Park when the road gets difficult and then continue towards Méjanes. Stop whenever you like, as...
Horse riding
Circuit
Nature trail
Zoos and farms
Culture and traditions
Hotel les Arnelles
Charming hotel close to the village of Les Saintes Maries and the beaches. Quite expansive but if you can, it is the moment to offer to your children a very nice stay....
no information
no information
La maison de Jeanne
Lovely setting and particularly warm welcome. It’s safe here for your children, just opposite the church, granted it’s beside a little road, but one where no vehicles are allowed, motorised or otherwise. So you can have a worry-free lunch or dinner while the children run around. And the children’s meal is only €5.50, which is a real plus for you too. Restaurant/tea-room
Brasserie La Siesta
South-facing, on the sea-front. Open every day. Free aperitif if you found them on this site (tourismeenfamille.com). In summer there is gypsy music 3 nights a week. Nice atmosphere in the afternoon, with ‘lounge’ areas on the terrace (important: the terrace is misted in the summer! fabulous!)
Church
Fortified roman church dating back to the 9th and 11th centuries. Take a tour of the church, which contains the relics of Marie Jacobe and Mary Salome. While you’re there, make a little pilgrimage to the crypt to see the statue of Sara, patron saint of gypsies (and servant to the two St. Marys). And if you go up to the top of the church you will have an amazing view, stretching from the Alpilles to Mount Ventoux! (Closed when windy).
Last update 11/10/2010
Last update 11/10/2010
Easter Week-end
Easter in the Camargue: all sorts of events involving bulls
Last update 15/07/2008
Last update 15/07/2008
May 24th and 25th
Gypsy pilgrimage: gypsies from all over the world gather in honour of St.Sara. Our advice: it’s not really a good idea to go to Saintes Maries with children at this time, far too crowded
Last update 15/07/2008
Last update 15/07/2008
June 18th – 23rd
Village fête: funfair plus events involving bulls and horses, bull racing and mounted parades in the streets
Last update 15/07/2008
Last update 15/07/2008
July 12th – 14th
Horse Festival: Equestrian displays in the arena
Last update 15/07/2008
Last update 15/07/2008
July 27th
Festo vierginenco: Traditional festival during which 16 year old girls dress as Arlesiennes; honour is also paid to the statue of St.Mireille
Last update 15/07/2008
Last update 15/07/2008
August 15th
Féria du taureau: ‘bull festival’, held in the arena
Last update 15/07/2008
Last update 15/07/2008
September
Camargue bull races every Wednesday
Admission free
Last update 15/07/2008
Last update 15/07/2008
October 18th and 19th
Pélerinage des saintes (Pilgrimage of the saints): to commemorate the arrival by sea of the 4 saints, statues of the saints are put out to sea on a boat
Last update 15/07/2008
Last update 15/07/2008
November 11th
Abrivado Festival: bulls let loose on the beach; a thousand horses, fifty or so bulls and 11 ranches all take part
Last update 15/07/2008
Last update 15/07/2008
December
Christmas celebrations: Christmas market and lots happening in the streets
Last update 15/07/2008
Last update 15/07/2008
Tourist office
All the tourist info about the town. 5 avenue Van Gogh (on the sea-front). Open daily 9am – 5pm in the winter and 9am – 8pm in the summer.
www.saintesmaries.com
Last update 11/10/2010
www.saintesmaries.com
Last update 11/10/2010
Bike hire
Le vélociste: all kinds of bikes from 16 inches; child seats; half wheeler bikes, trailers (mind you remember to book in advance!). At the shop they have lots of ideas for family bike rides. ‘Le vélociste’ also organises family sunset cycle rides.
www.levelociste.com
Last update 11/10/2010
www.levelociste.com
Last update 11/10/2010
Provencal market
Baby equipment for hire
Wherever you may be, "les petits voyageurs" can deliver whatever baby equipment you need: handy for travelling light on your holiday!
www.babyloc.com
Last update 11/10/2010
www.babyloc.com
Last update 11/10/2010
