Bouches du Rhône
Population: 1.759.371 inh. Surface 5.255 km²

This departement is one of vast contrasts, It ranges from mountains (the Alpilles to the north, the Saint Baume and the Saint Victoire to the east) to plains and flat country (Camargue). The city of Marseille is a busy urban center but the creeks, beaches and ports have a more restful rhythme on this changing coastline.

The Bouches du Rhône has been the inspiration of creators as different as Cezanne and Christian Lacroix and those local crafters of the Santons from Aix. The annual meeting place for gypsies is at Saintes Maries de la Mer and the Cannebière was chosen for the card game scene in the film of the comic Raimu. In Arles the typical Feria or bull runs attracts visitors from both far and near, This departement represents Provence in all its splendor.

Porte de la Méditerranée Marseille is a city apart from the rest of Provence. It is a large cosmopolitan city, the second largest in the country next to Paris. Its port is the most important and opens the city to the world through the Mediterranean Sea. In contrast, Aix en Provence has remained more provincial in aspect and attracts those looking for a more Provencal flavor. Both are cities of science, technology and culture and play a major economic role in the Bouches du Rhône.

The calanques Nearly 20 km. long and 4 km. wide, stretching from Marseille to Cassis these creeks form an astounding wild coastline of 4000h. Inlets of steepsided rocky cliffs some rising to an impressive 400 m. above sea level,the Calanques can be seen by boat or by walking along any of the160 km. of well marked paths.

Camargue All the way to the left of the department just under Arles, is the meeting place of the Rhône and the Mediterranean, A natural and protected park of 85,000ha, Camargue is composed of vast plains of wetlands, ponds and rice paddies all watched over carefully by its natural inhabitants the pink flamingoes, herons and cormorants, Wild it is and wild Camargue will remain with its Gypsies, cattle breeding and the Camargue cowboys on their white horses.

Alpilles