Camargue Cowboys – Heavy on the Gallic

By Bennett Owen

The similarities are baffling at first – the weathered faces - broad-brimmed hats - sturdy, fleet-footed horses - the love of a stiff shot of whiskey of an evening.  But mostly it’s the independent spirit, the love of nature, the freedom of the outdoors that binds them in spirit with their American cousins.

Credit: laura.foto

Credit: Arles Office of Tourisme

They are the ‘Gardians’ the cowboys of Camargue in southern France, a vast and untamed region of marshlands and long-horned cows and the sturdy and spirited Camargue horses, one of the few remaining wild equine breeds left in the world. They are short, sure-footed and powerful and as nature would have it, perfectly suited to the region.

Credit: Wolfgang Staudt

Credit: kahala

There’s another similarity. Gardians like to have a good time and that involves bringing their rough and tumble livelihood to town.  Arles is the gateway to Camargue and every May 1^st, it is the center point of a celebration as wild as any rodeo.

It starts with the parade -   

Credit: Camargue-en-provence

Credit: kahala

And then it’s on to the arena – one that used to host gladiators in the first century.

Credit: Travel In France

Their form of rodeo is called Course Camarguatise, in which the young bucks try to snatch a rosette from between the horns of some fairly furious bulls. Good clean fun.

And of course a queen is chosen to preside over the festivities.

Credit: kahala

Credit: kahala

As WC Fields once said, “It’s time to take the bull by the tail and face the situation.

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