Musée des Marais Salants

About the museum

The museum originates in the Musée des Anciens Costumes, opened in August 1887 by Adèle Pichon, a nun and daughter of salt workers from Bourg-de-Batz. Faced with seaside tourism and the disappearance of a way of life, she gathered furniture, tools, work clothes and ceremonial costumes of the paludiers (salt-marsh workers) and sauniers (salt harvesters). In 1977, the SIVOM of the Baule region acquired these collections, then known as the Musée de Kervalet, in order to create a showcase of the salt trades. The building opened to the public in July 1984.

Since 2003 the museum has belonged to the agglomeration community CapAtlantique, now La Baule Agglomération. It received the “Musée de France” label in 2006. After three years of closure, it reopened in 2013 in the former salt warehouses of the village of Batz, the fully renovated Magasins Bertrand. The building housed a salt-trading company with a salt-washing plant, which was active from 1914 to 1962.

The route can be visited independently in three areas: “Le sel en question”, “Histoire du sel de Guérande” and “Gens du marais”. The collections comprise more than 10,000 items: textiles and costumes, photographs and postcards, manuscripts and printed matter, paintings, prints, decorative arts and objects. In 2024, the know-how of the salt workers of the Guérande peninsula was recognised as intangible cultural heritage.

Highlights

• Former salt warehouses with a salt-washing plant active from 1914 to 1962
• Festive and working costumes, furniture and everyday objects of the salt workers
• 12-minute film on how a salt marsh works and salt is harvested
• More than 10,000 collection items, including photographs, textiles and graphic arts
• Permanent exhibition, supplemented by activities during every school holiday

Permanent exhibitions

• Le sel en question – General area on the formation of salt, its uses and its preservation, with panels, archive films and interactive terminals.
• Histoire du sel de Guérande – Visit of the work spaces of a former salt-trading company with a salt-washing plant, and a 12-minute film on the salt marsh.
• Gens du marais – Everyday objects, furniture, festive and working costumes, and works by artists on the culture of the salt workers.

Founded

1887

Operated by

La Baule Agglomération (CapAtlantique)

Visitors per year

approx. 22,497

Admission & discounts

The ticket gives access to all exhibition areas, permanent and temporary, for a self-guided visit. Also free for ICOM card holders, museum staff, tourism professionals from Loire-Atlantique, the press and tour guides; job seekers need proof issued less than 3 months ago. Guided school visits €3 to €7. Payment by card, cash or ANCV holiday vouchers (chèques-vacances).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The permanent route (about 120 m, on the first floor) and the temporary exhibition are accessible; an elevator serves the upper floor. Three reserved parking spaces in front of the entrance for holders of the carte mobilité inclusion. Two manual wheelchairs and twenty seat-canes are lent free of charge at reception. The reception counter is adapted for visitors standing or seated and fitted with an induction loop. Benches line the route. Subdued lighting may make the panels hard to read for visually impaired visitors.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

Puzzle booklets for ages 4 to 6 and 7 to 11 are available at reception. During every school holiday, activities for children are offered: creative workshops, games, storytelling visits (visites contées) and shows. Toilets with baby changing table; bottle warmer and microwave on request at reception. The route is accessible with strollers.

Getting there & parking

By car, via the D138 towards Le Croisic. Two electric vehicle charging points are on place de la Cathédrale in Batz-sur-Mer. By bike, via the Vélocéan cycle route “Vivifiante Côte Sauvage”; bike spaces near the museum and bike hire 250 m away.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers
• Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi access. Free-access shop at the entrance (bookshop, tableware, stationery, children’s products and local products). Cloakroom, lockers and an air-conditioned exhibition area. Eating and drinking are forbidden in the rooms; large bags and suitcases are not accepted.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit