The little story of Cacharel
It was in 1947, after his childhood in Nîmes that Denys Colomb de Daunant, aged 25, settled in Cacharel, a place lost on the borders of not very hospitable but endearing land. This post-war choice was daring: no water, no electricity, no telephone. In 1949, he married Monique Bonis, the granddaughter of Marquis Folco de Baroncelli who had devoted her life to the Camargue, her traditions and the Provencal language. Very quickly, Cacharel was a meeting place where men and ideas, freed from urban and conventional constraints, gave free rein to the spirit of creation. Cacharel became a renowned breeding of bulls and horses for more than thirty years.
In the footsteps of the film “Crin Blanc”
From the meeting between a young director, Albert Lamorisse, a Camargue poet-writer, Denys Colomb de Daunant, and a child, Alain Emery, "Crin Blanc" was born in 1950, a film written and directed in Cacharel. Vast spaces between sky and earth, between wind and sand, covered with water, inhabited by white horses, black bulls, pink flamingos and free children: this image of the Camargue has made generations dream. From this time, the first horses were hired there to discover these silent landscapes. Even inexperienced people could ride these horses, which were perfectly adapted to wet and muddy ground.
Prosperous beginnings
The hotel was built by Denys and Monique Colomb de Daunant in 1954: 3 rooms and 4 people to take care of it. We called him “the Little Cacharel”. Our clients came for 3 or 4 weeks and were, for the most part, riders crazy about solitude. There was no water, no electricity, no telephone, only a table d'hôtes which the elders still talk about.
The expansion of the 1960s
In 1962, the hotel was expanded to ten rooms. Between 66 and 68 water, electricity and telephone were installed underground, because Denys Colomb de Daunant, aware of a natural heritage to defend, for a long time refused all poles and lines which would have disfigured the landscape. Until 1986 a restaurant welcomed our guests. Small restaurant which is reborn in 2021.
The next generation of the 80s
In 1986, Florian Colomb de Daunant, son of Denys, took over from Cacharel. At the beginning of the 90s, the restaurant gave way to a light formula of country dishes. Since 2021 the catering has been extended to various hot and cold plates of regional products. Now, there are sixteen air-conditioned rooms, where human warmth, calm and authenticity are cultivated for your happiness and for ours.
Tradition in the 21st century
As we live through the 2000s, our goal is not to betray the spirit that made our first customers dream so much. In 2004 then 2006, Monique then Denys Colomb de Daunant left us. They left this magical place where their spirit will remain attached for a long time to this Cacharel and to this Camargue that they loved so much.