Salins-les-Bains
Salins-les-Bains is found north-east of Poligny in the Franche-Comte region of France, near Arbois.
A spa town and salt producing centre in the Jura, it is at the bottom of a deep valley, through which flows the River Furieuse.
The town is watched over by two forts - these were built due to the valley position of the town which was once a key strategic spot on the road to Switzerland.
Salins-les-Bains is best known for its salt mines - the old workings are now open to the public where you can see the vast workings of the underground chambers (a UNESCO world heritage site), and various paraphernalia associated with its extraction. Salt extraction here finally stopped in 1962.
It is hard for us now to imagine how important and valuable salt was a few centuries ago, when it was crucial for much food preservation, but by the 17th century it was one of the most sought after products available. It was having control over the production of this valuable commodity that made the local Chalon family very rich and powerful.
The population at the height of activity in the town was about 17,000 - now it is closer to 4,000.
Apart from the thermal springs and salt mines, be sure to visit the two forts above the town - Fort St André, reinforced by renowned French military engineer Vauban; and Fort Belin (which has a lovely view back across the town below).
Nearby: to the east of the town, in a lovely verdant spot, the river Lison emerges as a waterfall from the bottom of a cliff.
(Note: photos thanks to Sylviane Broustal)
Visit Salins-les-Bains (Franche-Comte, Jura) travel, gites and hotels
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The Salins-les-Bains hotels listed feature descriptions, guest reviews, ratings, location maps, online booking etc. as well as the 'best-price' guarantee. The search for hotels in Salins-les-Bains is provided by booking.com. General holiday / vacation options- See Franche-Comte gites for Salins-les-Bains holiday rentals Holidays nearbyLooking for something close by? See a wide choice of hotels, holiday villages and holiday rentals at: Places to Stay near Salins-les-Bains VisitSee Visit Salins-les-Bains for places to visit near Salins-les-Bains including: a detailed map, villages in bloom and most beautiful villages DiscussAsk questions or leave a comment about Salins-les-Bains in our Franche-Comte forum Salins-les-Bains property for saleSee Franche-Comte property for sale
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Tourist Classifications for Salins-les-Bains
- Listed as "Plus Beaux Detour" town in France (ie recommended stopover place)
Places to visit near Salins-les-Bains, France
Explore places of interest within about 70 kilometres on a map at places near Salins-les-Bains.
Some places to visit within 30 km: 
12 km: Arbois (Town in Jura) 36 km: Baume-les-Messieurs (Most beautiful village) 14 km: Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans (World Heritage Site)
See also Salins-les-Bains (version Francais)
