Réserve naturelle nationale des marais du Vigueirat

Réserve naturelle nationale des marais du Vigueirat is a protected wetland on the outskirts of Arles, sitting exactly where the Rhône delta meets the Crau plain. The reserve stretches over eight kilometers and covers 919 hectares of interconnected wetland habitats — ponds, sedge beds, reed beds, salt marshes, riparian forests and tamarisk groves. It is one of the last large, near-untouched fragments of the original Camargue landscape still preserved today.

Why does this site hold national nature reserve status?

The Marais du Vigueirat earned national reserve status thanks to natural heritage recognized as significant at both French and international levels. The site forms the central zone of the Camargue Biosphere Reserve, placing it under the highest tier of protection within UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere programme. Management of the reserve falls to the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO), which oversees two properties belonging to the Conservatoire du littoral within the commune of Arles: the Marais du Vigueirat itself and the neighboring Marais de Meyranne.

What birds and wildlife live here?

The reserve is above all a haven for birdwatchers and wetland species. More than 290 bird species have been recorded here, including 90 nesting species and 176 wintering species. All nine European heron species breed within the marshes, including the great egret, and the reserve shelters 10% of France's entire population of the Eurasian bittern — a species especially sensitive to changes in reed-bed habitat. The sheer variety of environments, from salt marshes to riparian forest, makes the site an important migratory corridor and resting stop for birds moving along the Rhône delta.

How can visitors explore the reserve?

The Marais du Vigueirat welcome visitors year-round. Families with children can follow the free Sentiers des Etourneaux route, a boardwalk trail that winds through the most accessible parts of the reserve, allowing close observation of wildlife without disturbing the habitats. For those seeking a deeper connection with nature, guided tours are available on foot or by horse-drawn carriage. More ambitious visitors can take on a five-kilometer hike leading into the heart of the reserve, passing several wildlife observatories and watchtowers that let visitors spot birds without startling them.

Frequently asked questions

Is entry to the reserve free? The main Sentiers des Etourneaux boardwalk trail is free and can be explored independently. Guided tours and carriage rides are available for an additional fee.

Is the reserve suitable for families with children? Yes — the boardwalk trail was designed with families in mind. It is flat, safe, and allows easy wildlife observation without a long walk.

When is the best time to visit? Thanks to the large number of both nesting and wintering species, birds can be observed almost year-round, though spring and autumn are especially rewarding for spotting migratory species.

What sets this reserve apart from the rest of the Camargue? The Marais du Vigueirat stands out for its location at the junction of the Rhône delta and the Crau plain, and for its status as the central zone of the Camargue Biosphere Reserve, which brings particularly strict habitat protection.