Le Grau-du-Roi is a commune bordering the Camargue and also has the distinction of being a town open to the Mediterranean Sea. A seaside town in the Gard department, it has plenty to offer all year round. This is your chance to discover the Eastern Mediterranean, the Rhône Delta, the Gard department, Provence, and, of course, the mysteries of the emblematic town of Le Grau-du-Roi.
What to do in Le Grau-du-Roi
1. Grau-du-Roi’s finest beaches
When it comes to swimming in the sea, there’s always the question of beaches. And there’s no shortage of beaches in this corner of the Gard. There are eighteen kilometers of beach here, all in a wild and authentic setting.
A. Espiguette beach
Located just behind the breakwater of the south channel is one of Le Grau-du-Roi’s most beautiful beaches. A spit of sand that disappears into nature and the protected site of Terre-Neuve. A little further back, you’ll find a dune belt that gives this beach its much sought-after wilderness. With a length of ten kilometers and a width of 700 meters, this beach has plenty to offer.
At the far end of the beach is a naturist beach. Don’t miss the sandbank off the Espiguette beach. A small islet just two minutes away by boat, it is simply called “le banc de sable de l’Espiguette”. This is where the silting up of the Bay of Aigues-Mortes takes place. Beware: this area is sometimes literally overrun by pleasure boaters, which is not without its problems for wildlife, particularly short-nosed seahorses – a rather fragile endemic species. It is therefore important to be as respectful as possible of the environment.
B. Boucanet beach
This beach on the right bank stretches for almost three kilometers. It is generally the preferred beach for families with young children, as the water is shallow.
C. Rive Gauche beach
This urban beach is located very close to the town center. It’s a pleasant place to go for a drink or a break. It’s a good place to remember that the great traveler Hemingway stayed here for two honeymoons. For a swim, the beaches are a little wilder.
D. The beaches of Port Camargue
They’re called the south and north beaches. Two small sandy beaches that literally encircle France’s largest marina. The northern beach is on the Quai Lapérouse side of the harbor.
The other beach, the southern beach, is on the Route des Marines side. It is bounded by the esplanade d’Ulysse and the dyke of the pond channel.
2. The best accommodation in Le Grau-du-Roi
For those who want a peaceful place to stay just a stone’s throw from the sea, Grau-du-Roi Les Jardins de Tivoli campsite is the best alternative. A campsite that opens from May to September in an idyllic wooded setting. And above all, it lets you reconnect (a little) with nature by spending the whole day outdoors. Apart from the many activities and the few hard cottages, you can easily pitch your tent or campervan for a summer between land and sea.
The huge advantage of this accommodation is that it is located between a wild beach and the center of Le Grau-du-Roi.
Address: 470 route de l’Espiguette, 30240 le Grau-du-Roi
3. Going to the market, one of the things to do in Le Grau-du-Roi
Markets are perhaps the best way to take the pulse of the town and the whole of Provence. The market is sacred, and above all, it’s an opportunity to reconnect with healthy food made from fresh, seasonal produce.
The town center market is undoubtedly one of the town’s most authentic venues. It’s open all year round. To discover the stalls, go to Place de la République.
Then there’s the fishermen’s market. On either side of the canal, on the Quai Colbert or the Quai Général de Gaulle, fishermen’s stalls await you all year round. Fishermen sell their fish here every morning.
The other fishermen’s market in Le Grau-du-Roi is in front of the Port Camargue harbor office. It takes place every Wednesday and Saturday morning from April to September.
The local farmers’ market is located in front of the town hall. (Address: 1, Liberation Square)
During the summer, from June to September, the Boucanet market is held. A great place to do your shopping. What’s more, it’s easy to find as it’s just opposite the Vog cinema and a stone’s throw from a playground. So head to rue des Pétunias to discover this local market.
4. The lighthouses of Grau-du-Roi
Discover the house of the old Grau du Roi lighthouse
The old lighthouse was in operation between 1828 and 1869. It was replaced by the Espiguette lighthouse. The small house at the foot of the lighthouse can be visited, but the lighthouse is not open to the general public.
The Espiguette lighthouse
Fortunately, this lighthouse lost in the middle of the dunes is a monument that can be visited from March to October. It’s a great opportunity to discover a large square tower overlooking the town and much of the region. To enjoy the view, you’ll need to climb 111 steps.
5. Discover Port Camargue
“The sea teaches sailors dreams that ports kill”. One of Bernard Giraudeau’s most beautiful quotes about the sea.
This circular harbor is the main port of Le Grau-du-Roi. A pleasant place to discover at the end of the day. Your visit to the port usually ends with a stroll to the dyke in the channel. It’s a peaceful and relaxing place to discover. The marina has also been listed as a 20th century architectural heritage site. More than 5,000 boats dock here every year. As such, it is the largest marina in Europe, neck and neck with the port of La Rochelle. Port Camargue was designed by the architect of La Grande-Motte, a certain Jean Balladur.
The alternative: the port of Grau-du-Roi
Located right in the heart of the town, this fishing port has a very authentic feel. Bordered by a tiny chapel, this square basin is one of the most beautiful spots in the town. It’s a great opportunity to see around thirty fishing boats.
6. The bullring
This emblematic monument of the city was built in the early 1960s. The arena can hold around three thousand people. It’s a must-see monument that sometimes gets the whole town buzzing.
Address: 3 route d’Aigues-Mortes
7. The bridges of Grau-du-Roi
With a fairly intense nautical and tourist activity, road and naval constraints had to be managed. This is why movable bridges were installed. Two bridges at Grau-du-Roi are causing a stir, and we’ll explain why.
The swing bridge
This bridge in the town center links the right bank (Port du Grau-du-Roi, Saint-Pierre church) to the left bank (Arènes).
Location of the swing bridge: 54 quay Général de Gaulle
The lift bridge
This bridge is an integral part of the departmental road that spans the Vidourle. This small coastal river flows mainly through the Gard department and serves as the administrative boundary with the Hérault department.
Discovering this bridge is an opportunity to head inland and follow the course of the Vidourle toward the Cévennes. A small river that flows and meanders for 95 kilometres. It rises in Saint-Roman-de-Codières on the Fage mountain at an altitude of 931 metres. It ends its course in the Etang du Ponant to the north of Le Grau-du-Roi. But the Vidourle marks the western boundary of the Camargue. A wilderness that has inspired and continues to inspire generations of artists, photographers, ornithologists, and other nature lovers.
8. The Camargue Regional Nature Park
Although the capital of the Camargue is none other than Sainte-Marie de la mer, Le Grau-du-Roi is also one of the entry points for exploring this fabulous nature reserve. Other must-see towns in the Camargue are Aigues-Mortes and Saint-Laurent d’Aigouze, not forgetting Salin-de-Giraud and Port-Saint-Louis du Rhône.
The must-see spots in the park are undoubtedly the Etang du Fangassier (a site where you can spot pink flamingos). For birdwatching, the Pont de Gau Ornithological Park is another must.
The Famaran lighthouse lies along the Canal des Emprunts between the Etang de la Galère and the Baisse des Béchets (two pretty lagoons that will definitely make you love the Camargue. At the very end of this same canal, you’ll find Plage de la Courbe. A point of interest located right next to the little port of Grau de la Dent. Next, and more accessible, is a visit to the Salines du Midi between Le Grau-du-Roi and Aigues-Mortes. If you wish, you can board a small train (le train des salins d’Aigues-Mortes).
Finally, for those who want to admire the horses of the Camargue, the Marais du Vigueirat is the place to go. It’s a truly breathtaking place where you’ll find birds, horses and a few farmed bulls. Camargais horses traditionally live free in the marshes. And that’s what gives the Camargue its air of adventure and wilderness.
9. The aquarium
The aquarium, which is designed to be both educational and instructive, covers more than 2,500 square metres and features over two hundred species of fish and almost three hundred species of animals in all. There are also seals, sea lions, and around twenty species of shark. A chance to discover a tiny part of the fauna that inhabits the world’s seas, through a wide range of tanks.
Seaquarium address: Avenue du Palais de la mer – rond point de la Cavidoule.
The alternative to the aquarium is undoubtedly Amigoland. This is a funfair where young and old alike can have fun on gloomy days or at the end of the day after the beach.
10. Live to the rhythm of the region
Throughout the year, events take place in and around the town. The programme includes jousting in the Languedoc region and the fête de la Saint-Pierre. But there’s also the beach abrivado, the bandido, the encierro, the Camargue races and the graulinades. Most of these festivals take place in September, marking the end of the summer.
The other main activity is, of course, the inevitable sea outing. It’s a great way to discover the maritime life of the people of Graul.