Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: GR 653

Crossing the Rhône´s western arm, Le Petit Rhône, via a modern bridge and so leaving the Camargue and entering Gard. On the horizont the water tower of St. Gilles.

The by far most interesting building in the very small village of Saliers is this. Nowadays mostly ugly silos or modern barns are used to to store crops. In former times crops were stored in such elegant structures. Obviously wine was kept here as well. See the barrel on the gable.

The river Rhône forms two arms. I had crossed the eastern arm, the "Grand Rhône", in Arles and was on my way to the the western arm, the "Petit Rhône". Inbetween these arms, forming a great delta, lies the "Camargue", a formerly marshy and hostile area. Now most of the land is cultivated, even rice is grown here. The Camargue is as well known for black bulls, white horses and pink flamingos. I walked a long and pretty boaring road. No shadow, no bulls, no horses no flamingos. Not even cars for hours.

A little closer look onto the portal of Saint-Trophime. Here are some of the finest examples of romanesque carvings existing in southern France. I´ll upload details later. End of July 1178 Frederick I Barbarossa, walked through this portal, when he was crowned here "King of Burgundy". His wife Beatrix was crowned a month later in the Cathedral St. Maurice - in Vienne. This was the point, where I started the Via Tolosana.

The facade of Saint-Trophime with it´s portal - in shadow. Here are some of the finest examples of romanesque carvings existing in southern France. I´ll upload details later. The structure of the church behind, seen here like an architectural model, is that of a basilica (a high nave, two low aisles). This church was the center of a diocese upto the french revolution. End of July 1178 Frederick I Barbarossa, was crowned here "King of Burgundy". His wife Beatrix was crowned a month later in the Cathedral St. Maurice - in Vienne. This was the point, where I started the Via Tolosana.