The Camargue traditions

The Abrivado : The Arrival of the Bulls

The abrivado follows the route of the bulls from the pastures to the arena, crossing the heart of the village. The gardians, on horseback, surround and guide the animals safely. Sometimes, young attrapaïres try to disrupt the procession, attempting to catch the bull to prove their bravery.

The Bandido : The Return of the Bulls

The bandido is the opposite of the abrivado : once the bull run in the arena is over, the bulls are brought back by the gardians to their pastures, following the same route in reverse, from the arena to the fields. As with the abrivado, young attrapaïres sometimes try to make the bulls break away, for fun and as a challenge.

The Encierro : Bull Release 

The encierro is a bull run along a closed course, usually a street or public square sealed at both ends with carts and barriers. Unlike the abrivado or bandido, no horsemen accompany the bulls : the bravest participants provoke the bulls and escape by taking refuge behind barriers or on straw bales.

The Gase : Swimming Crossing

The gase is the swimming crossing of a waterway by bulls, accompanied by gardians on horseback. This tradition dates back to the daily movements once carried out by manadiers when transporting herds between pastures. The gardians had to guide their cattle across numerous rivers and waterways to reach new grazing lands and continue their seasonal pastoral work.

The Roussataïo : Mare Release

The Roussataïo is the release of mares, accompanied by their foals of the year, through the streets of the village. The term comes from Provençal : “rosso” means mare, and roussataïo refers to their seasonal movement. The animals are guided by gardians on horseback.

The Plan : Temporary Arenas of Aigues-Mortes

The temporary arenas of Aigues-Mortes are made up of wooden stands called “theatres”. These structures belong to local families in Aigues-Mortes and are set up each year along the southern ramparts of the city.

Heritage and passion

Bull traditions are much more than spectacles : they reflect the history, know-how, and identity of the Camargue.

Each race, each manade, and each gesture of the gardians reflects skills passed down through generations. These practices highlight the close bond between man, horse, and bull, living symbols of this territory.

More than entertainment, they help preserve the landscapes, transmit local values, and maintain a unique regional identity where nature, culture, and traditions meet.