The Camargue Bullfights

Also known as 'the Rosette Race' , this time-honoured event takes place in several villages in the Petite Camargue region, which covers part of Herault and the Gard.

Razeteur

The Camargue bullfights have grown into a full-blown sporting spectacle, governed by strict rules.

Men in white costumes - the ‘razeteurs’ - try to remove a rosette attached to the bull's head, between its horns. They take their name from the ‘razet', the graceful, arc-shaped movement they make when sporting with the bull. They need all the style, suppleness and daring they can muster to grab the prize - at the exact moment when man and beast come into contact.

The Rosette Race is not without its dangers. Sometimes a particularly aggressive bull will chase the razeteur right up to the barrier in a bid to get even: this is known as the 'coup de la barriere'. It’s a moment relished by dedicated fans of the 'bouvine' – the Camargue bullfights and the culture they represent.