La Grande Saline de Salins-les-Bains

Over het museum

The Grande Saline de Salins-les-Bains is presented as one of the oldest factories in France, with about 1,200 years of activity. A vaulted gallery about 165 m long, dug as early as the 12th century, carries the brine to the production buildings. In the Middle Ages, the site employed 820 people in a town of about 8,000 inhabitants, and in the 15th century it offered its workers social protection that was rare for the time.

In the 17th century, the saline produced about 14,000 tonnes of salt a year and supplied Burgundy, the Franche-Comté and Switzerland. In the 18th century, a water wheel, still in working order and driven by the Ruisseau de la Furieuse, operated a 32 m balance beam and a pump that raised brine from a 246 m well.

Production declined at the end of the 19th century, with the end of the state salt monopoly, rising fuel costs and falling salt prices. A first spa establishment opened in 1854 and used the mother liquors of the saline. The saline closed in 1962; the town of Salins-les-Bains bought the site in 1966 to convert it into a heritage site and visitor attraction.

Hoogtepunten

• 12th-century underground gallery (165 m), guided tour only
• 18th-century water wheel still in operation
• Salt museum and graduation building
• Combined ticket with the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans
• Game booklets and treasure hunt for children

Vaste collectie

• Galerie souterraine – Vaulted 12th-century gallery about 165 m long, accessible only during a guided visit of about one hour.
• Musée du sel et bâtiment de graduation – The production buildings present the history of the saline and of salt making; they can be visited freely, including with a reduced ticket without the gallery.

Beheerder

Régie de la Grande Saline

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

The guided tour ticket at €10.50 includes the underground gallery and free access to the salt museum. Payment by cash, check (made payable to the Régie de la Grande Saline), card, ANCV holiday vouchers or administrative payment order.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk: geen informatie
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

Wheelchairs and walkers are lent free of charge. The underground gallery is reached by a staircase of 50 steps; no step-free alternative is described, so it is advisable to contact the site before the visit. Movements between the reception, the gallery and the graduation building take place outdoors. Animals are not admitted, except carried dogs and guide dogs for the blind.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations

Game booklet for ages 6 to 12 and coloring booklet for ages 3 to 5, free at reception. Treasure hunt “Ruée vers l’or blanc” for ages 6 to 12 at 15:45 (1 hour 15 minutes) on Wednesdays during school holidays and Monday to Friday in summer; booking recommended at +33 3 84 73 10 92. Workshops on salt, pottery and experiments. The family guided tour lasts about 1 hour and includes a staircase of 50 steps: for babies, a baby carrier is recommended rather than a stroller.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Besançon is 45 km away and Dole 41 km. By road: A36 (Lausanne exit) or A36/A39 (Poligny exit). Bicycle parking available; Dole-Jura airport is about 35 minutes away.

Service & horeca

• Museumwinkel
• Garderobe: niet aanwezig

A shop is on site. For security reasons (Vigipirate plan), bags, luggage and strollers are not kept at reception.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

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