The Saltworks at Salins-les-Bains

Rightfully following in the footsteps of the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, which were inscribed onto UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1982, the Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains have now joined that exclusive circle comprised of the world's most remarkable sites.

The fascinating story of ‘White Gold' stretches back over many centuries. It is an industrial, political, economic and, above all, a human adventure, which all began in the subterranean vaults of Salins-Les-Bains. When you travel through this picturesque town in the Jura, you can't help but notice these immense buildings with their towering chimneys which, until 1962, were dedicated to the mining of salt.

They offer an outstanding spectacle which, since the spring of 2009, also incorporates the contemporary-style building which houses the Musée du Sel. The guided tour begins with a descent into the subterranean galleries which link two pits containing ingenious pumping systems, capable of extracting salt-rich water at a depth of 250 metres. The tour follows the path taken by the brine, ascending to the Salles des Poêles (The Stoves Chamber). The four massive stoves immediately convey an impression of just how arduous the work of the saltworkers was.

They had to stoke the stoves with firewood and then harvest the evaporated salt with elongated rakes.  This unusual journey continues with educational and interactive displays in the historical buildings which from part of the saltworks. These included the Salt Warehouse, which has only recently been opened to the public.

This new guided tour recounts the story of salt across the ages. The remarkable new Musée du Sel recreates the glory days of the site and does full justice to the saltworks in their natural setting. A ‘Planet Salt' space aimed at children, where they can learn all about salt-mining and the many different ways in which salt is used, also forms part of the tour. Salt is very much more than just something which you put on your food!