Well, that was fun! On Friday, 16 October, Network Provence took our monthly meeting outdoors to the magnificent Manade Maillet in Roussillon—a piece of La Camargue but in the Luberon. Most of our attendees had never heard of Manade Maillet, but I had learned from another NP member -Lori Howard of Pinch Me Provence– of this wonderful experience, and so we went; what a find in our backyard!
Manade Maillet is a 20-hectare farm that breeds certified Camargue bulls and horses in a slightly more hospitable climate than their usual coastal salt-marsh home. Owner Jean Louis told us there were significantly fewer mosquitoes and much more shade on his land near Roussillon, so it made sense to start a Manade some 20 years ago in the Luberon.
We were driven on a huge tractor-drawn wagon around the farm, right into the pastures where bulls lived their semi-wild lives. The Camargue bulls and cows weren’t too fussed by our interruption, but they gave us a close-up look while our gardian guide, Clément, educated us and answered questions about the lovely beasts.
We also met this year’s foals and broodmares and learned about the Camargue horses and the unique qualities that make the breed particularly suited to French cowboy life.
After our tour, we were given a demonstration of how the gardians and their horses work together to manage the bulls. In particular, gardienne Emma impressed us with her young stallion, Moustique, and their elegant riding skills. It was magical watching them all together.
Manade Maillet was one of the most orderly ranches I’ve ever seen. The tour was educational and shone a real light on yet another hidden jewel in Provence. It would be an ideal location for many different kinds of events, and I hope we will visit with Network Provence again one day. Thanks to NP member Marlene Boyer from Experience Provence for her translations and elaboration, which helped everyone understand.
What will be our next adventure? Do you know a good place Network Provence could visit for an enriching excursion? It’s easy to stick to what you know, but with so much Provence goodness on our doorstep, it’s also worth exploring more!
By Maryna Fontenoy for Network Provence
