The Arenas
Le Grau du Roi is rich in traditions. From Easter to October, the entire town lives to the rhythm of bullfighting traditions. The arenas, located at the entrance to Le Grau-du-Roi, are a must-see place to discover local culture and enjoy plenty of entertainment.
Enter the arena
A major venue for Camargue races and bullfighting games, the Grau du Roi bullring attracts up to 3,000 spectators every year who come to admire the skills of the raseteurs and their animals during the Camargue races.
In summer, the arena hosts concerts, bullfighting in the pool, bullfighting games, car boot sales and open-air cinema.
In September, it’s time for the local festival. Created in 1946, the ‘local’ festival of Le Grau-du-Roi is a symbolic and traditional event that marks the end of summer for residents, a time when the seaside resort traditionally reverts to being a village of customs and traditions. Today, visitors and holidaymakers mingle with the locals. An opportunity to share a unique experience and enjoy the spectacle and thrills of the bull run!
Camargue racing: top athletes and star bulls
It is a real sport for the raseteurs. These men dressed in white must lift the attributes that the bull carries on its head. A red cockade placed in the centre of the forehead, two tassels attached to the base of each horn, and finally two strings placed near the tassels. All of this must be removed using a metal hook, with the raseteur assisted by the turner. The raseteurs have a limited amount of time to remove these attributes, which earn them points (accumulated in a ranking) and money. The bull therefore generally has 15 minutes (this time varies depending on the category of the race) to defend its attributes. In Camargue bullfighting, the bulls are the stars. A real cult exists.
Camargue traditions
Every March, the Abrivado des Plages attracts thousands of spectators. The Abrivado used to refer to the driving of bulls from the pastures to the arenas under the supervision of the herdsmen. Nowadays, it is a bullfighting tradition that involves simulating these bull transfers by releasing them, usually in the streets of villages, but here on the beach during traditional Camargue festivals. A parade on the beach steeped in 100% Camargue tradition.
On the channel side, jousting tournaments are also part of local folklore. Of medieval origin, jousting is similar to knightly tournaments. Nowadays, jousters ‘dressed in white’ challenge each other to a single combat. Two boats are propelled by eight to ten rowers and aim to knock their opponents into the water. The jousters are positioned on a platform located nearly three metres above the water, at the end of each boat. The two boats then face each other, propelling themselves towards one another until the final impact. At the moment of the assault, the two boats brush past each other on the right side to allow the jousters to perform ‘the pass’. Armed with his lance and shield, the jouster’s objective is to knock his opponent off his horse. The winner is the one who remains in place after the pass.
