Montcalm: Winery, Chapel and Fête votive

Montcalm offers several specific points of interest to consider when planning a trip: winegrowing, the history of the hamlet, historic buildings and Camargue traditions. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Montcalm, your preferred focus can help you choose when to travel.

Winegrowing and visits

Domaine de Montcalm is an organically farmed winery. It cultivates 40 hectares in the AOP Sable de Camargue and 25 hectares in the IGP Pays d’Oc. The Domaine offers visitors a guided tour of the vineyards, which also includes a tasting of six distinctive cuvées. Regular visits take place in summer; specific dates may vary. Winegrowing is therefore part of both Montcalm’s founding history and the Domaine’s visitor experience. The two areas differ by 15 hectares: the larger share is in the AOP Sable de Camargue, and the smaller in the IGP Pays d’Oc.

Local history and the chapel

The hamlet of Montcalm was founded in the late 19th century by entrepreneur Louis Prat. During the phylloxera crisis, he wanted to establish vineyards on sandy soils. The Château de Montcalm, together with its outbuildings, and the Chapelle de Montcalm are visible from the road. The chapel was built mainly in the second half of the 19th century; 1886 is recorded as its year of construction. On July 31, 2000, it was listed as a historic monument by decree. The construction period and the later listing as a historic monument are separate historical milestones: 1886 is the recorded year of construction, while 2000 is the date of its listing.

Fête votive de Montcalm

The Fête votive de Montcalm is a recurring local festival featuring abrivados and bandidos. Dates and the program may change from one edition to the next. If you want the festival to shape your stay, check the dates for your preferred travel period.

Camargue experiences

La Maison du Guide de Camargue in Montcalm takes visitors to encounter the Camargue’s characteristic birds. It offers walking and cycling tours in regional or local protected areas; custom tours are available on request. It also offers wildlife photography workshops in collaboration with Kalian Lo, a professional photographer. The activities have different focuses: encounters with birds, tours on foot or by bike, and wildlife photography.

A 3.5-hour 4x4 trip with Karine Coeur de Camargue offers a chance to discover the Camargue’s wildlife and plant life, including Camargue horses, bulls and flamingos. This motorized activity differs from the walking and cycling tours; availability may change.

If you want to plan your stay around one of these experiences, check the relevant edition, visit dates or availability before choosing your hotel dates.

For the broader travel overview: Vauvert.