Port-Saint-Louis on bike, the city surrounded by water

Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône

Port-Saint-Louis on bike, the city surrounded by water

Heritage and history

Local products

Waters and rivers

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Ride along the mouth of the great Rhône, between the city "at the other end of the world'', the river and the sea...

Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, born around the port activity, has developed a new face. The Commune was included in the perimeter of the Regional Natural Park of Camargue in February 2011, offering its visitors the Camargue symbols: greater flamingos, horses, salt marshes, beaches ... It now relies on its natural heritage and its cultural identity to revitalize and value its territory, and by taking all necessary measuresto preserve the quality of life.

7 points of interest

Patrimony and history

The Bonnardel company and warehouses

Built by the General Navigation Company in the 1880s, the warehouses contain a dwelling, ship repair workshops, ironwork workshops, offices for the shipping companies and shops. Today of private access, the buildings are listed as historical monuments and are tangible proof of the city's boom with the construction of the Canal Saint-Louis.

Water and rivers

The St. Louis canal

The St. Louis canal is part of the complex network of canals from Marseille to the Rhone. It provides access to the Gulf of Fos-sur-Mer, from the Rhône, avoiding the open sea. It is 5km long. The crossing of sea and river vessels, from the Rhone to the sea is through this canal through a lock.

Water and rivers

The dry ports of Navy Services and Port Napoléon

Located between Corsica and the Balearic Islands, the mouth of the Rhone is an ideal point of embarkation. The marina of Port-Saint-Louis is one of the six marinas of the city. It offers 340 places afloat including twenty for the crossing. Labelled "Port Propre" since May 2014 and holder of the Pavillon Bleu for the 10th consecutive year, the marina is part of an environmental approach, offering many services to users and promoting exchanges with yatchsmen specially around pleasant moments. The two dry ports offer a total of 3200 spaces available and over 200 anchorage rings for visitors.

Produits du terroir

The Carteau mussel

The Carteau mussel is produced in the cove of the same name. It is renowned on the European market for its quality and freshness. The Carteau mussel is bigger than its Breton kindred because it gets more sun and is not subject to tides. If you take the lift bridge to the beach of Carteau, you will be at the heart of the cove of Carteau: Mediterranean Mecca of shellfish production. You will see far away, the mussel beds, commonly called tables.

Water and rivers

The beach and the cove of Carteau

The cove of Carteau is the result of the many meanderings of the Rhone River. As a proof, you will find to the north, a sandbank called They de la Gracieuse. This sandbank was formed and then stretched in the early 20th century, constituting the bay called Anse de Carteau. Once on the beach, you can locate the mussel tables, enjoy the prowess of sportsmen practising water sports and angling on the edge of the sea wall that leads to the lighthouse. Please avoid trampling the dunes and the sea grass beds.

Produits du terroir

The Ferrigno fish canning factory

This family business of fishing in the Mediterranean for three generations is the only French fish cannery of the Mediterranean coast. A specialist in high-end sardines, Ferrigno offers to its French and foreign clientele fond of quality, authenticity and also originality, a wide range of seafood products, marketed under the brand "Lou Ferrignade". Guided tours are organized every year in July and August by the Tourist Office of Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône.

Patrimony and history

Mollusc farmhouses

Mollusc farmhouses stand on either side of the inner harbour (basin located within a port) and goes onto the channel which connects the cove of Carteau to the land. This is where the fishermen unload the mussels. They place their harvest on the mat of the stripping machine that calibrates, cleans and separates molluscs.

Description

From the Tour Saint-Louis, take the road “rue Pasteur”, join the dock “quai Bonnardel” and pass through the lock.

1- Take the bike path along the Saint-Louis Canal until the Port Navy Services.

2- At the intersection, turn left on the bicycle path and reach the beach of Carteau.

3- Turn around and go back to point 2. At the intersection, turn left.

4- Facing the canal, turn right.

5- At the roundabout, take the bicycle path in the direction of Port-Saint-Louis through the banks of the Rhône.

1- At point 1, turn left, go through the lock again and return to the starting point through the same route.

Departure : Tour Saint-Louis, Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône

Arrival : Tour Saint-Louis, Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône

Towns crossed : Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône

Information desks

Domaine de La Palissade

BP 5, 13129 Salin-de-Giraud

http://www.palissade.fr/

palissade@parc-camargue.fr

+33 (0)4 42 86 81 28

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OT Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône

Tour Saint Louis - Quai Bonnardel, 13230 Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône

http://www.portsaintlouis-tourisme.fr/

contact@portsaintlouis-tourisme.fr

04 42 86 01 21

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Transport

Cartreize transport network: Bus line 21 > Arles/Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône through Mas-Thibert.

Access and parking

At 40km southwest of Arles through the D35 road. Go to the Tourist Office of Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône, in front of the Saint-Louis Tower. Car park nearby.

Parking :

Car park nearby the Tourist Office, Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône

Accessibility

Rollerblading and skating

Emergency number :114

More information

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