The Camargue traditions

Those involved in Camargue traditions

The manade : traditional livestock farming

A manade refers to a herd of bulls or horses raised in semi-freedom, as well as the farm to which they belong.

Manades shape the landscapes of the Camargue and help preserve local traditions. They are an essential part of the territory’s identity.

The manadier : guardian of the herd

The manadier is the owner and manager of a manade. He oversees the livestock and manages the herd with the help of the gardians.

His work helps preserve large natural areas and traditional Camargue livestock practices.

The gardian : the Camargue horseman

The gardian is an iconic figure of the Camargue. Riding a Camargue horse, he looks after herds of bulls and horses raised freely across the territory’s vast natural areas.

His role is essential in managing the herds and passing on Camargue traditions.

The attrapaïres : young people who challenge the bulls

The attrapaïres are participants who try to make the bulls escape during abrivados and bandidos. Positioned along the route, they attempt to disrupt the gardians’ passage in order to isolate a bull and divert it from its path.

This practice requires agility, speed and knowledge of the animals. The attrapaïres represent another facet of Camargue traditions, where challenge and bravery are expressed at the heart of local festivities.

These traditional practices involve risks and require great vigilance.

The Camargue traditions

The abrivado and the bandido : the journey to and from the arenas

The abrivado accompanies the bulls from the pastures to the arenas, passing through the heart of the village. Once the event is over, the bandido marks the return of the bulls to their pastures, following the reverse route, from the arenas to the pastures.

In both cases, the gardians, on horseback, guide the animals and ensure their safe passage. Sometimes, young attrapaïres try to disrupt the herd’s passage, attempting to make the bulls escape as a challenge.

The encierro : the release of the bulls

The encierro is a release of bulls organized along a closed route, on a street or public square closed at both ends by carts and barriers.

Unlike the abrivado or bandido, no horseman guides the animals. The bravest participants provoke the bulls before escaping behind the barriers or onto straw bales.

THE gase : crossing the water

The gase refers to the swimming of bulls across a waterway, accompanied by gardians on horseback.

This tradition recalls the journeys once required between different pastures. The gardians would guide their herds through the many waterways that shape the landscapes of the Camargue.

The Roussataïo : the release of mares

The roussataïo is the release of mares, accompanied by their foals of the year, in the streets of the village.

The term comes from Provençal : “rosso” means mare, while “roussataïo” refers to their movement or transhumance. The animals are accompanied and guided by gardians on horseback.

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