The Saline royale of Arc-et-Senans was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1982.
When staying in Arc-et-Senans, you may wish to rent a holiday apartment.
Culture
The Saline royale was built as a saltworks on the orders of Louis XV between 1775 and 1779. The architect was Claude-Nicolas Ledoux. As an integrated factory, the complex was designed so that almost the entire workforce lived there; residential and production areas were arranged in a semicircular complex comprising a total of eleven buildings.
From 1780 to 1895, the saltwater from the Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains was conveyed through 21-kilometre-long wooden pipelines to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans.
The Claude Nicolas Ledoux Museum is described as the only museum in Europe dedicated to an architect and focuses on the work of the creator of the Saline royale. It presents around 60 models from the architect’s work.
The Château de Roche in Arc-et-Senans has been partially protected as a Monument historique since 21 February 1974.
The Church of Saint-Bénigne contains ten works from the 16th and 17th centuries as well as a Stations of the Cross made of repoussé leather. It can be visited independently on a permanent basis; guided tours are available by appointment.
Nature
The Saline royale is part of the „Refuges LPO“ network and has been designated an „Espace Naturel Sensible“ by the département since 2011.
The complex includes a five-hectare visitor trail, which has been complemented by landscape design since June 2022. In addition, the nature trail at the Saline royale, opened in 2025, invites visitors to discover the biologically diverse environment through the senses in connection with the buildings, gardens and adjacent hay meadows.
Trails
The Sentier des Gabelous leads from Salins-les-Bains to Arc-et-Senans. The route can be travelled on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback.
Getting There
The Arc-et-Senans TER railway station is located 100 metres from the Saline royale.
