Provence – the sound of the name alone conjures up holiday feelings. You cannot help picturing the azure sea, fine-sand beaches, a fascinating landscape, black bulls and white horses before your mind’s eye. Provence and the Camargue – these are terms that make riders’ hearts beat faster. Here space and unspoilt nature beckon, here riders’ dreams come true. Fortunately the ambitious rider finds a very varied choice and can pick from a wide range.
If you have the choice…
…you should first critically assess your own ability. Only then can you find a suitable offer. Anyone who overestimates his riding ability quickly reaches his limits. Riding stables that are aware of their responsibility towards their guests and their animals try to divide the participants for the big rides and tours according to their knowledge. For newcomers with little experience, riding lessons in theory and practice are offered. Shorter rides are therefore also on the programme, while those who are firm in the saddle can even take part in multi-day trails, getting to know the particularities of Camargue-style riding. This working style of riding has developed over the centuries and is based on lightness, communication and trust.
Between bulls and flamingos
A particularly beautiful route is offered by the Camargue Trail, which leads in 5 riding days over a distance of around 130 kilometres through the most glorious terrain. Riding times of about 5 to 6 hours a day are expected, so that restful breaks can be taken. The trail leads over the southern flank of the Luberon to Mérindol; from there the next day the riders roam through the sweetly scented Durance valley. After a transfer, it continues from Albaron over the Alpilles, where idyllic narrow paths wind through pine forests. Here there are grandiose distant views. In Les Baux-de-Provence you can take a riding break and join a tour of the town. At last you reach the gateway to the Camargue, Le Paty. The route runs along the Étang de Vaccarès and offers the opportunity to watch grey herons, flocks of pink flamingos, the famous Camargue bulls and the free-living white horses. This landscape is incomparable; it recalls the first days of creation. A breathtaking composition of barren earth, water, sun and air. During the overnight stay in Saintes-Maries the riders are spoilt with the legendary Provençal cuisine. On the last day the trail leads through lonely marshland to a picnic spot on the beach, where you can have a wonderful beach gallop to round off an incomparable tour.
Staying in a holiday home in Provence
You do not necessarily have to join such a guided tour to experience unforgettable adventures in the saddle. It is also possible to stay in an enchanting holiday home and take part in so-called star rides. These are usually day rides in extremely attractive terrain. Staying in a holiday home has the advantage that you can cook the wonderful specialities of the local cuisine yourself. The most important components of Provençal cuisine are, besides fish and seafood, various little herbs which, combined with the fresh vegetables of the region, produce incomparable culinary delights. All kinds of poultry are also popular; less meat is eaten. The cuisine is light and the excellent wines accompany the meals perfectly.
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