History of salt

Formerly a salt production factory, the Saline Royale d'Arc et Senans is today more famous for the architecture of its buildings than for the industrial activity that gave rise to it. It is this history of salt production, using brine transported by underground pipes from Salins-les-Bains, that is presented in a museum space in the "Director's House". In addition to this specific activity, the museum also presents an overview of salt in human life: origins, geography, methods of exploitation, an essential element of taxation under the Ancien Régime, its symbolic and ritual role, and its uses, past and present...