la grande saline - musée du sel

voyageurautourdumond

There is visit each 1 hour in the morning, you must catch the right time, otherwise you could not go alone. There are also not working at lunch time. Very interesting to visit the underground and to understand the salt extraction history.I recommend this visit

Simonides_Seos

Staying at the adjacent Grand Hotel des Bains we could not fail to notice the Museum of the Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains. Remarkably, the Salt works was active for at least 1200 years until 1962 and together with the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans which it fed salt water for distilling away the salt, they drove the local economy as salt was then far more precious than now. The museum is very well presented, with regular tours in English and French and lots of photo opportunities as you explore underground (take a coat as it's cold there!) and in surface buildings. Keep your ticket for discounted entry at Arc-et-Senans: we were pleased that we visited both as they provided a complementary view of the salt industry.

sarahbX6872GK

Whilst staying in the area we decided to visit the salt works museum in Salins Les Bains.We had an English tour ( these were at 11am and 2pm) led by Chloe, a young French girl who had studied in England for her degree. Her English was absolutely amazing. The tour was most informative and interesting and she made it humorous too! - it was in fact our favourite place to visit during our holiday in France this year. :)

chorltongirl

We took the 'English' tour as our french isn't up to much. The guide was amazing. A young native french speaker, she spoke very good English and even managed jokes. The tour includes the history of the town. And it's fascinating. They could exploit the situation more by selling salt in interesting packages on exit. Even if they don't produce it any more I'm sure they could find a way. We'd all have bought some!

Essexgal64

It is hard to get much out of this unless you speak French. Would not recommend unless it is raining and all other possibilities have been exhausted.

fredilev

I'll admit I'm a bit of a geek about this sort of museum. The tour took you through how the area became involved in the production of salt and how that salt was derived. You even get to taste the water the salt is extracted from. Interesting tour of the caves and the drying beds. Very fun.

midlandsmoggy

This is an informative and well presented museum on the history of salt extraction in Salins-les-Bains. The museum consists of an interesting new building built around the old salt works and an underground tour which is worth doing and has some old water-driven machinery still in action.Well worth a visit if you are in the area.

DarenC39

A fascinating place and well worth the entry fee. The entry fee includes the guided tour, which is the only way you are able to visit the underground galleries, admission to the surface exhibits is free.Well worth a look.Disabled visitors should be able to access all of the above ground exhibit, but I did not see easy access to the underground galleries

YI400

A ticket to the saltworks includes a guided tour (English tours available at 12:15 and 14:00) down to the lower underground wells. Very interesting history and insight into the salt extraction process. Very nice and interesting guide. Shame that only a small proportion of the labels and posters have been translated into English,

patrickJ930

Le sujet est original, l'extraction du sel à partir des eaux souterraines est peu fréquente en France en tout cas. On apprend beaucoup de choses nouvelles et c'est bien ! Pour les enfants c'est aussi un sujet intéressant. Avoir en tout cas quand on passe à proximité de Salins les bains.

Gange68

A voir absolument pour le côté technique de l'extraction du sel et en complément de la Saline Royale d'Arc-et-Senans pour le côté architectural. Cf. Sites internet.

Cati1001

Le guide nous a fait revivre l'épopée de l'or blanc, d'aller visiter la saline royale d'Arc et senans. Le site est bien mis en valeur.

rosieRev

Découverte de "l'or blanc", il est difficile de nos jours d'imaginer le quotidien des personnes qui travaillaient dans des conditions aussi pénibles.Dommage que la présentation vidéo ne soit pas plus longue et ne présente pas tous les postes de travail, cela nous aurait permis de mieux appréhender l'organisation d'une telle entreprise.

MGC19

Visite guidée très instructive A faire absolument pour bien comprendre l'importance du sel et de la Saline dans la région. Belles galeries souterraines impressionnantes. A recommander.

Nice57

Mycket intressant guidad tur under jord, med väldigt bra guide förklarar bra på engelska. Lite kyligt man bör klä sig lite varmt, för det tar en lång stund att gå runt men det är det värt.