The Marais de Saliers bring together marshes and freshwater or brackish ponds in a mosaic of different habitats and agricultural land. Saliers offers other ways to explore as well: a long circular route, guided introductions to animal husbandry at the Manade Saliérène, horseback rides and the history of the Église Saint-Pierre. You can therefore focus your stay on nature, outdoor activities, Camargue traditions or local history.
The landscape of the marshes
The Marais de Saliers are among the Grande Camargue’s most important areas of marshes and freshwater or brackish ponds. Their mosaic includes stands of reeds and bulrushes, wet meadows, Saladelle grasslands and sansouires. There is also agricultural land, especially rice fields. The landscape is therefore made up of more than water and marsh: plant communities and cultivated fields are also part of its character.
Another aspect of the Camargue is the Bois de Lauricet. It is one of the Camargue’s few wooded areas, and its trees and shrubs provide important habitats for local wildlife. Wetlands and rice fields on the one hand, and a rare woodland area on the other, represent distinct landscape themes.
Circular route and ways to get around
Le marais d'Albaron à Saliers is a 20-kilometre circular route that starts at Albaron primary school. It is designated for walking and travel by VTC, VTT and car. As an exploration route, it is part of the Camargue Regional Natural Park. Its length, circular layout and starting point give the route a clear framework, while the designated ways to get around offer several ways to experience it.
When choosing, it is helpful to distinguish this route from the Manade’s offerings: the circular route focuses on a specific itinerary, while the Manade offers guided visits and horseback rides. The type of activity is therefore a practical point of comparison, without requiring you to combine the activities into a fixed itinerary.
Manade Saliérène: guided visit and horseback ride
On guided trailer tours, the Manade Saliérène introduces visitors to Provençal bullfighting traditions and the raising of cattle and horses. The visit ends with an aperitif and a tasting of products from the farm. This culinary finale is therefore part of the guided tour.
The Manade also offers horseback rides through Camargue landscapes of marshes and ponds. The two offerings have different focuses: the visit is about traditions and animal husbandry, while the ride is about experiencing the landscape on horseback. If you choose an activity by its theme, you can weigh these different focuses directly against each other.
The history of the Église Saint-Pierre
The Église Saint-Pierre de Saliers was built on the site of a former chapel that probably dates from the 12th century. The earlier chapel and the later church should be distinguished chronologically. Around 1930, the church building was at risk of collapse; in the late 1930s, it was completely renovated.
This sequence links a probable early history with a clearly identified building phase in the 20th century. The tentative date refers to the former chapel, while the renovation concerns the later church building. The church thus adds an independent historical dimension to the landscape and activity themes.
Choose accommodation based on your travel interests
When looking for a holiday rental in Saliers, you can start by deciding what kind of discovery matters to you. The marshes and the Bois de Lauricet represent different landscape themes; the circular route is a designated activity option, and the Manade’s offerings distinguish between a guided visit and a horseback ride. The church adds a historical perspective. Shape your search around whether nature, outdoor activities, animal husbandry, tradition or local history is the deciding factor for your stay.
Discover more destinations: Cassis, Aureille, Cadolive, Plan-D'orgon, Meyreuil, Graveson, Gréasque, Cuges-Les-Pins
Return to the regional travel overview: Bouches Du Rhone.
