Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer – New Year’s Day in the Camargue
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is a coastal town in the Camargue region of southern France, located in the Rhône delta between wetlands, lagoons, and the Mediterranean Sea. Known as the capital of the Camargue, the town has long been connected to fishing, local traditions, and an important pilgrimage centered around its historic church.
We arrived with our motorhome on the last day of the year. Because many of the usual motorhome areas were already full during the holiday period, we parked at the parking lot next to Hôtel Le Bleu Marine. It was a practical solution and allowed us to stay within walking distance of the town center and the seafront.
Driving into the town gave us our first glimpse of the Camargue landscape. Along the road we saw some of the region’s well-known animals, including white Camargue horses and groups of flamingos in the wetlands. These open natural areas are one of the defining characteristics of the region and make the journey to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer interesting even before reaching the town itself.
The center of the village is compact and easy to explore on foot. The most prominent landmark is the fortified church, Church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Mer, which dates back to the early Middle Ages and stands as the historic heart of the town. Visitors can walk around the church square, explore the small streets nearby, and reach the harbor area in just a few minutes.
On New Year’s Eve the town organized fireworks over the waterfront, which we watched along with many other visitors gathered near the sea. The atmosphere was lively but not overly crowded compared to larger coastal cities.
On the first day of the year we took a walk along the beach. The long sandy shoreline stretches for several kilometers and offers wide views of the Mediterranean. Even in winter, it is a pleasant place for a walk and provides a good perspective of the surrounding Camargue landscape.
Our stop in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer was a practical and interesting way to start the new year during our motorhome journey. Parking was limited due to the holiday period, but staying near the center made it easy to explore the town, see the fireworks, visit the historic church, and walk along the beach. For travelers crossing the Camargue by camper, the town is a convenient base to experience both the coastline and the natural environment of the region.