Watch Discovering Provence The Camargue

The Camargue region of southern Provence is known for its desolation, white horses, black bulls and swampy plains. Less known is its history of Crusaders at Aigues-Mortes, the ancient city with spectacular 13th century military architecture; its salt traders and Crusader saddle makers. Today this southern Rhone river delta is one of Europe's largest ecological reserves, fostering a unique environmental balance. Every year it sees a migration of pink flamingos, the harvest of an introduced rice development and large scale industrial production of salt. The Gypsies of France have made Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer a holy centre for their annual religious celebrations whilst a dramatic demonstration of medieval falconry embodies the spirit, the pomp and pageantry of castles, knights and kings. Evolution of the Rhone River delta, the Camargue The white Camargue horse and the Fete du Cheval Camargue bulls bred for the traditional bullfight, the course a la cocarde Gardians of the Camargue and their cabanes Arles the capital, its Fete des Gardians and Fete du Costume Interview with Mme Jeanne Calment, 122 years old Saintes-Maries de la Mer and the ceremony of the two holy Marys Origin of the Gypsies and their annual pilgrimage to worship black Saint Sarah The Camargue Natural Reserve where the pink flamingo nests Rice growing and history of the production of salt in the Camargue Aigues-Mortes the Crusader port. The Crusader's saddle and a saddle maker The Beaucaire Fair and falconry of the Middle Age.