There is an exceptionally diverse, wild region called the Camargue in the south of France. It is made up of 145,300 hectares of magnificent landscapes where the mouth of the Rhone flows into the Mediterranean sea.
The Camargue stretches over the departments of the Bouches-du-Rhône and the Gard up to Aigues-Mortes. The south of the Camargue is made up of wetlands and brine lagoons that form a unique ecosystem.


This ecosystem has vegetation that is made up, in particular, of samphire and halophilic plants that are suited to salty environments.

Migrating birds are rarely disturbed on the vast expanses of the Camargue.
In particular, the Salin d’Aigues-Mortes is a large reservoir of food and breeding ground of primordial importance for the birds that spend spring and summer there. In spring, the diverse vegetation provides nesting sites (islands, bushes, etc.) and abundant food for raising their young. Up to 100% of the breeding inventories of some species settle there. This prime site for birds is home to 200 species, 157 of which are protected.

In particular, these include :

The Camargue Cross, the real emblem of the Camargue, was designed by Paul Hermann and commissioned by the Marquis de Baroncelli.

It represents the three cardinal virtues: faith, hope and charity. This unique symbol of the “Camargue Nation” (or “Guardian Nation”) is representative of the guardians (cattlemen), fishermen and the town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. The cross with its guardians’ tridents represents faith; the fishermen’s anchor, hope; and the heart represents the charity of the Saint Maries (a holdover from 12th century legends of the voyages of the 3 Marys after which the town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is named).

The original cross was made by Joseph Brabanson, a blacksmith in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, and was manufactured in his workshop in Place de la Révolution (now Place du Grenier à Sel); he suggested the addition of the three guardian’s tridents to better represent the Camargue.

This cross was first erected on a platform beside the postal collection station (opposite the current “Grand Large” building). Numerous celebrities and friends of the Marquis de Baroncelli attended the celebration including the poet Joseph d'Arbaud, Delly, Maguy Hugo (the granddaughter of the poet Victor Hugo); Madame de la Garanderie; Fanfonne Guillierme; the family of publishers, Aubanel; the painter, Paul Hermann; and many other local celebrities.

It was later moved to Pont du Mort at the entrance to the village on the road to Aigues-Mortes where it still stands today. It should be noted, however, that the current cross is a copy as the original was stolen.

At the Salin d’Aigues-Mortes, the combination of salt and the work of the salt farmers over time and many generations has produced an exclusive biodiversity with some species of plants that only grow in the Salin. There are 280 species of plants 20 of which are protected.

Among others, the Salin is home to :