Saint-Martin-de-Crau
Between the Alpilles and the Camargue
Saint-Martin-de-Crau is a French commune located in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. It is situated in the heart of the Crau plain, a vast alluvial plain between the Alpilles and the Camargue. The commune is renowned for its natural heritage, including the Coussouls de Crau nature reserve, as well as its taurine traditions. Saint-Martin-de-Crau is also known for its Provençal market, which takes place every Friday morning.
To discover
in Saint-Martin-de-Crau
5 Reasons to Visit Saint-Martin-de-Crau
Typical Provençal architecture
Its renowned weekly market
Its proximity to the Camargue
Its arenas, which have hosted great raseteurs
Its historical and cultural sites
On vacation in Saint-Martin-de-Crau
Several relaxing activities await you in Saint-Martin-de-Crau: you can visit the Provençal market, stroll through the old town, hike in the surrounding nature, visit bull and horse farms, or simply relax in one of the many parks in the area.
Summer Holidays
The Coussouls de Crau National Nature Reserve is a unique environment in France, as it represents a “dry steppe.” Many animal and plant species live there in a fragile balance. Traditional grazing has been practiced since the Neolithic era.
Consisting of large grassy areas, the soil covers a puddingstone (a conglomerate of rocks) from the last glaciation. Some rare undergrowth may sometimes survive if tree roots manage to penetrate sufficiently and if the sheep do not graze them.
Regarding fauna, many birds and insects live there, including at least two species endemic to the reserve (the Crau Grasshopper and the Onopordon Buprestid). Various species of lizards have also made their home in the region.
The name “coussouls” comes from the word used by shepherds to describe the short grasslands, the best places for sheep to graze.
Your vacation home
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The Rétromusée was founded by a passionate collector, André Avis, in 1987. With the help of the village, he created this small museum which features lifelike recreations of daily scenes from the past, dating back to the 18th century.
Golf Courses Nearby
Places to Visit in Saint-Martin-de-Crau
Family Vacation
The Écomusée de la Crau aims to raise public awareness about the importance of preserving such a unique environment. Inaugurated in 1987, it features a permanent exhibition that explains the many interactions between humans and nature, particularly within the park. With videos explaining and detailing various processes, this museum is sure to captivate both children and adults, as long as nature conservation is an important cause for them.
Romantic Getaway
The Étang des Aulnes is the largest body of water in the entire Crau Plain. Many species, including birds and insects, inhabit this area. This tranquil spot allows you to be soothed by the sound of water and the breeze. Due to its still wild environment, several migratory species are known to settle here.
You can also see a Domain that has been owned by the Conseil Général des Bouches-du-Rhône since 1988. Built in 1213, the building and especially its garden remain impressive: a grand avenue lined with oleanders and pines leads to a wooded park where the lawns slope down to a lake.
Coming to Saint-Martin-de-Crau
Saint-Martin-de-Crau is crossed by the N113 and the N1453.
To visit Provence, the most recommended airports are Marseille, Montpellier, and Nice.
From Arles SNCF train station, you can take bus line A30 to reach Saint-Martin-de-Crau. The nearest TGV station is Avignon TGV.
Twelve categorized cycling routes, ranging from “Easy” (20 km) to “Difficult” (140 km), are available in the region.
Nearby Towns of Saint-Martin-de-Crau
- Mouriès: About 7 kilometers.
- Maussane-les-Alpilles: About 9 kilometers.
- Paradou: About 9 kilometers.
- Fontvieille: About 13 kilometers.
- Aureille: About 13 kilometers.
Saint-Martin-de-Crau, History, Traditions, and Culture
Here is the translation:
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Saint-Martin-de-Crau has been named Saint-Martin at least since 1052, following the inauguration of a church called “Sanctus Martinus de palude majori” (Saint-Martin of the Great Marshes). However, the French version was “Saint-Martin-de-Palud” until the early 19th century. It was then that “Saint-Martin-de-Crau” appeared and remained, solidified by the official creation of the commune under this name in 1925.
The earliest traces of human presence in the region date back to before the first century BCE. At that time, the Crau plains were arid, with few plants able to grow except around water sources where trees and succulent plants were found. The Roman Empire established itself around these areas from the 1st to the 5th century.
The first official mention of Saint-Martin is found in a 12th-century document, indicating that four grouped settlements developed in Crau. The town was probably built around the house of a lord (perhaps even a small castrum) that contained several rooms, a cellar, several granaries, and even a prison. Fortifications around the village provided some security.
Despite this, in 1348, the plague struck a large number of villagers, and in 1355, the war against the Count of Toulouse led to the village being burned. The inhabitants left the village and moved to neighboring towns. Documents suggest that the inhabitants began to return to the abandoned village around 1438. However, in 1469, there were only 5 inhabited houses and a single oven for the whole village, leading historians to believe that barely one-tenth of the population from a century earlier had returned. It was wartime efforts that saved Saint-Martin. In 1683, mass production of black powder attracted Spanish and Italian immigrants seeking easy money, who worked in the “dynamite factories,” as they were locally called. This led to the opening of the Société anonyme d’explosifs et de produits chimiques in 1892. Thanks to World War I, their business flourished, increasing from an annual turnover of barely 1.4 million francs before the war to 8 million in 1917. Unfortunately, a massive explosion destroyed the company at the beginning of 1918.
Despite this, many other explosive companies continued to open, and numerous accidents occurred until the original dynamite factory exploded in 1935.
The commune was officially recognized as independent in 1925. For a time, the commune became famous for its melons, as many market gardeners from Cavaillon established their shops and plantations in the area. In 1975, Lorrainers, attracted by jobs created by the Sollac industry, arrived in large numbers in Saint-Martin, as housing was much cheaper there. Even today, 60% of the inhabitants are said to be direct descendants of this late wave of immigration.
