I want to go to the Nature reserve/bird park near Sts. Maries de la Mer. There is a Pont de Gau stop listed on the bus route. Does anyone know if that stop will put me in front of the Parc Ornithologique? Rick says the TI in Arles has lists of tour guides but I'm not really interested in hiring a driver. Will the bus work?
Posted by
Dallas
1022 posts
I suggest you post on the Provence forum in Trip Advisor to get advice from local experts.
Posted by
OP
Vancouver, Washington, United States
59 posts
Thanks, Tex. Just did that. Will wait and see now. Between here and there, I should have an answer soon:)
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
Without a car you can take a bus to Sts. Maries de la Mere on the edge of the Camargue and walk or rent bicycles to ride along the boardwalk the skirts the Med. We have done this, it's interesting if you need a change of pace from other sightseeing. Sts. Maries has a few sights, food, and offers a boat ride up the Petit Rhone. Have not done that.
Posted by
OP
Vancouver, Washington, United States
59 posts
Thank you, Adam! That's what I wanted to hear. I was hoping the bus took us close enough. We'd like to avoid renting a car if possible.
Posted by
Decorah, Iowa, USA
345 posts
I understand if you don't want to rent a car because of the cost but you will get to see so much more if you have a car. Depending on where you are staying, it is easy to leave Arles via a car and drive into the Camargue. There is a nice museum to visit. You can take the other road and go Aigues-Mortes. RS doesn't like this town very much but the walled fort area is intersting, albeit with lots of little tourist shops. There are many photo ops for the black bulls and white horses. If you go west of Aigues-Mortes and see the giant piles of salt at the processing plant for sea salt. Of course, you can buy sea salt and red rice which is a specialized crop in the Camargue. Even farther west is Grande de Motte which is a very nice vacation area with lots of marinas and boats. Are you going to the church in St. Maries de la Mer? I had read Light of the Moon by Luann Rice and wanted to see the church. There are many other fiction books about the Camargue. I wanted to see the Camargue after seeing the movie "Friends" in the 1970s. We ate at a restuarant at one of the crossroads. I will check my pictures and see if I can find the name. It is La Ceinture. We had a wonderful buffet meal. Since we were there on a Saturday afternoon, it was busy but there was very little wait time. We had come from the Luberon area, drove through the Camargue and onto Montpelier. We have gone to the Camargue three previous times. If you have the time, I would spend an entire day there. If not, enjoy what you want and can see! (When I went to look for the picture, the computer froze. I thought I had lost this posting. Boy, was I surprised when I found it had been posted! :)