Tourism in Le Grau-du-Roi

Le Grau-du-Roi is a seaside resort in the Gard, in the Camargue gardoise, about 41 minutes from Camping Crin Blanc. The village grew up on both sides of the canal linking the Étang du Ponant to the sea, halfway between Aigues-Mortes and Port-Camargue. A swing bridge opens several times a day to let boats through, around 8am, 10:15am, 12:30pm, 2pm and 6:30pm. On one side, colourful fishermen’s houses and one restaurant terrace after another line the quay, looking out over the moored trawlers. On the other, Port-Camargue spreads its more recent residences around the largest marina in Europe. The old town centre is best explored on foot, through narrow streets and small squares, before heading a few minutes away to the beach or the fishing port.

L’Espiguette beach stretches for nearly 10 km of fine sand and natural dunes, away from any buildings. You reach it by shuttle or on foot from the car parks at the edge of the point, an arrangement designed to protect the dune ridge, part of the coast’s natural heritage. An isolated lighthouse marks the point and serves as a landmark for miles, with a beautiful view of the sea. Families with children often prefer the part near the car parks, which is better supervised in summer, while the long walks towards the point suit nature lovers. For a more urban beach, with shops and terraces in town, head instead to Le Boucanet, in the heart of the resort: the beaches of Le Grau-du-Roi range from the wildest to the liveliest.

The Seaquarium in Le Grau-du-Roi is a marine aquarium on Avenue du Palais de la Mer, open every day of the year except 25 December. It features sharks and tropical fish alongside Mediterranean species, in tanks designed for close-up viewing. Opening hours vary greatly with the season, with late opening until 11pm in July and August and closing at 6:30pm the rest of the year. It is one of the most popular family activities in the region during the holidays.

Must-sees in Le Grau-du-Roi

Don’t miss L’Espiguette beach, a protected natural area of dunes and sand, and the fishing port, still active today, a few minutes from each other along the coast. Between fishing village, great wild beach and marine aquarium, Le Grau-du-Roi promises a day out full of discoveries.

Port-Camargue and the fishing port of Le Grau-du-Roi share the same seafront, in the Gard, but tell two different stories. Port-Camargue, with room for nearly 5,000 boats, presents itself as the largest marina in Europe, maintained since it was created in the late 1960s. The fishing port, on the other hand, remains a workplace and a living maritime heritage: the trawlers leave early in the morning, around 3am, and return in the late afternoon with their catch. Part of the catch is still sold directly on the quay to the public by small-scale fishermen. It is one of the few places on the coast where you can still buy fish straight off the boat.

Our tip: arrive at the port in the late morning, when the last boats come in and the atmosphere is lively without the midsummer crowds. Another useful tip from the tourist office: it is best to book your Seaquarium slot before going in high season.

Le Grau-du-Roi is in the Gard, in Occitanie, in the Camargue gardoise, on the Mediterranean coast. The town is one of the must-see destinations for a stay in the Camargue from Camping Crin Blanc. It is also a great starting point for discovering other nearby places, especially Aigues-Mortes and its medieval ramparts or Port-Camargue, right next door. Your stay is also a wonderful opportunity to discover the Camargue Regional Nature Park.