Discover Sainte Sara from your beachfront campsite
Learn about local customs and take part in the festivities of Saint Sara the Black!
Camargue’s waterfront campsites offer a unique opportunity to discover this remarkable region of France. Holidaymakers can enjoy the fine sandy beaches of the Mediterranean Sea. But also to discover the rich flora and fauna of the region.
The Camargue is famous for its salt ponds, where pink flamingos feed and nest. Visitors can observe many other bird species.
Horses and bulls are also an integral part of Camargue culture, and visitors can attend bull runs and horse shows.
The town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer is a Mecca for gypsy culture and the festival of Saint Sara. Finally, staying at a campsite in the Camargue also offers easy access to the historic towns of Nîmes and Arles. In the Camargue nature reserves, visitors can observe herds of wild horses and bulls.
At your campsite, enjoy the
pools
next to your mobile home, as well as children’s playgrounds.
The campsites offer a variety of activities for holidaymakers looking to explore this unique region of France. Have you booked your stay yet?
Sainte Sara la Noire, patron saint of the Camargue
Sainte Sara la Noire is an emblematic figure of the Camargue. This patron saint is venerated by gypsies and pilgrims during the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer festival.
Legend has it that Sara was a young black slave with mysterious origins. She is said to have accompanied Marie Jacobé and Marie Salomé on their arrival in the Camargue. The latter would have been the first to welcome Jesus on European soil, during his journey to Egypt. Saint Sara is thus considered the patron saint of all travelers and itinerants.
Today, the festival of Sainte Sara is one of Camargue’s must-see events. Every year, it attracts large numbers of visitors for the procession, mass and festivities. The chapel of Sainte Sara is located in the church of Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. It is an important place of worship and meditation for gypsies and pilgrims.
Sainte Sara, also known as Kali sara la noire, has become a symbol of the Camargue’s identity. It bears witness to the richness and cultural diversity of this region of southern France.
The feast of Saint Sara at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
The festival of Sainte Sara is one of the most important events in the Camargue. It is celebrated every year on May 24 and 25 in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, in honor of Saint Sara la Noire, the patron saint of gypsies.
This traditional festival is an opportunity for pilgrims and visitors alike to discover the richness and cultural diversity of the Camargue. For two days, processions, masses, equestrian shows, concerts and entertainment are organized in the streets of the town.
The pilgrims, dressed in their finest traditional costumes, parade in a festive and colorful atmosphere, carrying a statue of Saint Sara on their shoulders. The chapel of Sainte Sara, located in the church of Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, is the main gathering place for pilgrims and the faithful, who come to pay their respects and make offerings.
Sainte Sara’s feast is a time for sharing and conviviality, a testament to the attachment of the people of the Camargue to their history and cultural heritage.
