“Astouin” cycling circuit

The Amarée Mas

The Petit-Rhône estuary

The Gardian Hut

The Camargue Cross

The arenas of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

The Camarguaise Race

The Port Gardian

Sauvage’s ferry
Put in circulation in 1972, Sauvage4s ferry was completely renovated in 2004. It allows to connect the two banks of the Petit-Rhône for free It is powered by two side impellers with no possibility of steering and its circulation is facilitated by a cable. The ferry can carry 8 cars, 30 passengers and the crew for a crossing of a duration of 2 min. The nearby equestrian centres offer ballads for which you have to take the ferry, so it is common to see horses on board.

The Camargue Biosphere Reserve
The Camargue was classified as a Biosphere Reserve in 1977. Between these folds still partly wooded, you will find low lands occupied by lagoons lined with salt steppes, reed marshes and ponds. The agricultural lands are composed of wet meadows and grazers dedicated to the grazing of bulls and horses, old marshes converted into rice paddies of lagoons designed for the exploitation of salt and vegetable crops and viticulture on the dunes.

Rice fields

The Astouin castle estate

The bull of Camargue

The Horses of the Camargue

Le Bouvau d’Aubanel

The Departmental Reserve of Imperialists
Classified Departmental Reserve, Imperial and Malagroy Ponds were acquired by the Departmental Council of Bouches-du-Rhone in 1964 to protect these fragile natural environments (2,770 ha) which are home to many species of birds. The fishing, a traditional activity in Camargue, is practiced in the Imperial reserve in a boat without motor which imposes the use, as formerly, of the "partygue" (pole). Fishermen are looking for shrimps, eels.

The eel
At the graus level (or passages), communication canals between the sea and the littoral ponds, you will find fish, towards the flooded sansouïre and the ponds or towards the sea. Migrating species include mullet, sea bass, but also sea bream, sole and especially eel. Born in the Sargasso Sea, she joined the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts after a long journey. She comes to grow in the coastal ponds or rivers where she spends several years of her life.

The fortified church of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
True highlight of the Camargue (15 m), the church offers a breathtaking view of the village and all the Camargue. The 53 steps of a spiral staircase lead to the roof of the church where the panorama unfolds in all its splendour : up there, you can take advantage of a wide angle vision on the city, the sea and the ponds. Intense and sparkling blue of the Mediterranean Sea, purple hue of the Imperial pond The wind, the sun, the view of the calm expanse of the sea invite you to discover this landscape.
Description
1 - Turn left on the D85 and take the Sauvage ferry (information about ferry times at the Tourist Office). Continue on the D85 towards Aigues-Mortes and cross the small bridge that spans the Peccais Canal at Sylvéréal.
2 - At the intersection of the D58, turn right and continue for 350 m towards Arles. Take the bridge over the Petit-Rhône.
3- Then turn right towards S33. Walk 2 km and reach the Astouin hamlet. Leave on the left the Astouin Castle estate.
4 - At the intersection with the D38, go to the right and continue the D38 for more than 3,5 km.
5 - Take the D38A, turn left and continue straight until you reach the D570.
6- At the intersection with the D570, turn right and continue for about 4.5 km.
7 - After the Le Boumian hotel, take the small dirt road on the left, parallel to the D570. Continue straight for about 1.5 km.
8 - Turn left before the roubine (stream). Continue the path that runs along the roubine. Pass the small bridge and continue to the right. Continue straight and turn right on the road to Cacharel and cross the village to regain the starting point of the circuit, the Tourist Office of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.
Altimetric profile
Recommandations
D58 up to Sylvéréal, dangerous road!
Stay alert on the D570, busy road.
Respect the rules of the road on roads open to public traffic.
Information desks
OT Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer - Tourisme en Camargue
5 Avenue Van Gogh, 13460 Saintes Maries de la Mer
http://www.saintesmaries.com/
info@saintesmaries.com
04 90 97 82 55
the Camargue museum
Mas du pont de rousty, 13200 Arles
http://www.parc-camargue.fr/
info@parc-camargue.fr
+33 (0)4 90 97 10 40
Remember to visit the Camargue museum! It is located next to the administrative centre of the Camargue Nature Park.
Transport
Access and parking
Parking :
Accessibility
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