The Royal Saltworks

The Royal Saltworks is a historic building at Arc-et-Senans located at the foot of Jura mountains in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.

This masterpiece was built between 1775 and 1779 by Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, a visionary architect in the Enlightenment period. This architectural heritage listed as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites is a unique monument that remains a rare example of industrial history.

The Royal Saltworks was established as a factory for the production of salt, at the wishes of King Louis XV, 10 years before the French Revolution. At this time salt was a very important commodity used for example in food storage, agriculture and its production was a key industry in France.

Conceived as a completely integrated factory, the former royal saltworks of Arc-et-Senans counts 11 buildings constructed in a harmonious semicircle and surrounded by 15 gardens that you can visit.

Nowadays, 3 museums devoted to this heritage and its conservation are open to the public inside the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans.