A unique site in Europe, the Grande Saline de Salins-les-Bains tells the story of an industrial, economic, political and human adventure through the history of a know-how that has greatly contributed to the prosperity of Franche-Comté: salt production.
In 2009, UNESCO recognized the exceptional and universal value of the Grande Saline.
Since its classification as a World Heritage Site, the number of visitors has doubled (approximately 70,000 per year). They come to immerse themselves in the history of this town, Salins, which has taken advantage of an incredible gift of nature: salt.
Its manufacture by man, from sources of salt water and a principle of evaporation of brine by fire, has been practiced on this site for about 7,000 years and, in the Middle Ages, it occupied no less than 800 people (salt workers, coopers, blacksmiths, lumberjacks ...).
Its production alone contributed to half of the income of Franche-Comté region!
Closed since 1962, these salt works have become a major heritage site telling the technical and human history of "white gold" through the numerous preserved equipments: a monumental underground gallery ((accessible by a staircase of 50 steps in a temperature of 12°C), a salt pan, witness of this age-old know-how, or a large 19th century balance wheel driven by a still working bucket wheel! Note: you can taste the brine that is extracted but beware, it is more concentrated in salt than the Dead Sea with 330g of salt per liter of water.
An exceptional testimony of the industrial activity of the Franc-Comté region, the Grande Saline offers a real trip back to the Neolithic period. Today, its former granaries are home to a museographic tour that completes the guided visit with, in particular, an audiovisual space presenting the work of the salt workers and several collections dedicated to salt and its production.
To prepare your visit go here.
Valérie from Comme des Français
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