Carved out since the beginning of time by the changes the Rhône has imposed on it, this Mediterranean fringe, side by side with the river delta, enjoys its benefits to the full.
In the Camargue, the first thing one notices is of course the fine mix of sweet and salt water, and land made up of unforgettable and unique lines, so pure they seem to disappear into infinity. But this country will not reveal its charms to the hasty tourist, it has to be discovered. Thus, plunging deeply - but with a certain respect - into the wild, preserved lands, the visitor will have the privilege of witnessing the majestic flight of flamingos or the thrilling sight of wild galloping horses.
And bringing life to this perfect but somewhat static picture, there is man, in a close and fruitful relationship with nature.
Men have extracted salt from the sea for centuries, and here the techniques have been raised from an art to become a sophisticated industry.
One thing however has not changed and that is the ever-present sunshine, which produces the evaporation so indispensable to what is a rapidly expanding activity today: rice-growing.
The sandy stretches are excellent for growing asparagus, and the vineyards produce characteristic wines, that need to be drunk well-chilled.
During the last century, a number of families settled at the juncture of the canal and the sea, locally known as "Grau". These are the families that give the King's Grau its soul and its raison d'être, namely fishing.
The Grau-du-Roi is one of the most active fishing ports in the Mediterranean. The coming and going of the trawlers give rhythm to village life. The fish cargoes are auctioned right there on the docks, where fisherman repair their nets while cheerfully chatting. Welcome to the Mediterranean... here authenticity is second nature.
In Port Camargue, the mooring posts stand side by side with the marinas, the docks run the length of the peninsula and this resort can today claim to be the biggest pleasure sailing port in Europe. One is torn between land and sea...