Royal saltworks at Arc-et-Senans - a guide de voyage

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The Royal Saltworks is found near Besancon, in the chaux forest in the Franche-Comté region of France.

Construction of the Royal Saltworks began in 1775, on orders from Louis XV, and was an early attempt to group industrial buildings in a rational layout. The semi-circular plan for the layout of the buildings thus followed the organisation of the work that was to be carried out on the site.

The project was in part funded by a salt-tax that was levied on everyone over 8 years old in France. The salt was used for several things, including food storage, agriculture and glass production. The tax was extremely unpopular, and the building it funded suitably grandiose. Th building continued to manufacture salt until 1895, then fell to ruin until 1927 when it was bought by the local department. Several phases of reconstruction and renovation followed.

The word 'bombastic' springs to mind - the Royal Saltworks buildings are interesting rather than beautiful (in my humble opinion) but they are well worth a visit. Many of the buildings follow a simple classical, columned, design while others are more decorated.

Nowadays the body that run the saltworks, the Institut Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, run large exhibitions at the site with a different theme each year, in addition to the permanent exhibitions based on the salt treatment carried out at the plant, and the plan and layout of the buildings.

The buildings are surrounded by attractive gardens and parkland, and the whole is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Royal Saltworks: tourisme, carte, guide de voyage et gites