Camargue bull racing
THE "GILLES ARNAUD" arenas IN SOMMIÈRES
The "Gilles Arnaud" arenas is much appreciated for its shaded stands and the great Camargue bull racing organized by 3 bull clubs.
Throughout the year, the arenas is used for training by the bull games school, and in summer for races, shows and foam toro-pools.
CAMARGUE RACING
This unique discipline is practiced in 4 departments : Hérault, Gard, Bouches-de-Rhône and Vaucluse. It's an art of living based on the relationship between man and bull.
Once upon a time...
The earliest evidence of the origins of bull games dates back to 1402, when a race was held in Arles in honor of Louis II, Count of Provence.
It was towards the end of the 19th century that the rules of Camargue racing took shape, with attributes on the bull's horns.
Source : Fédération Française des Courses Camarguaises.
Today...
Recognized as a sport by the French Ministry of Sport, cocarde racing is a no-kill game in which the animal is not mistreated. In the arena, the "raseteurs" (young men dressed all in white) must retrieve the 3 attributes hanging from the bull's horns: the cocarde between the bull's horns, the tassel at the base of the horns, and the strings around the bull's horns.
The Camargue bull is very agile and can surprise the best "raseteurs". The most prestigious race is the "Trophée des As".
All Camargue races are listed in the calendar of the Fédération Française de la Course Camarguaise.
