Salins-les-Bains, a ‘Town of Character’

Town of Art and History

You'll immediately fall under the charm of this Town of Character and spa town with a fascinating built and cultural heritage.

Take a stroll around the narrow streets to see around twenty fountains, some of them superb sculptures. You'll also enjoy admiring the neo-classical style of the Rue de la République and the many private mansions, evidence of the town's prosperous past.

Make sure you stop by the Apothicairerie de l'Hôpital where there's a superb collection of earthenware, surgical instruments and wonderful jars with mysterious contents. After that, there are some must-sees to add to your list: 

• Chapel of Notre-Dame Libératrice and the magnificent glazed tile roof,
• Collegiate church of Saint-Anatoile and the incredible organ,
• Privately-owned Saint-André and Belin forts.

Along the salt route

The water flowing through this small town in Jura is full of salt, for which the town is now famous. Without salt, Salins wouldn't be a town, wouldn't have its forts, it's thermal baths or its casino. Not-to-mention the comté cheese or salted meat, all of which are what make this town one of the region's culinary treasures!

You can't possibly come to Salins-les-Bains without beginning your exploration at the Grande Saline, the saltworks which are recognised as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

This factory is in perfect condition despite being one of the oldest in France and the building has witnessed over 1,200 years of salt production... You can expect a moving, interactive experience through the incredible arches in the underground galleries.

To find out all about the challenging profession of the saltworkers of the past, don't hesitate to stop by the fascinating Musée du Sel afterwards. Finally, if you're a fan of hiking and cultural discoveries, you'll enjoy the Via Salina or the Sentier des Gabelous, two trails that combine wellness, the history of salt, remarkable scenery and UNESCO sites.

Find out more about the Grande Saline, a UNESCO world heritage site

Breathtaking views!

The small town of Salins-les-Bains is in a pocket valley shaped by the river Furieuse, with staggering mountainous terrain all around. 

The star peak of this area is Mont Poupet.

Mont Poupet is a beautiful place, standing at an altitude of 850 m, with gentle hills and a well-defined rocky outcrop.

If you look carefully, on clear days you might even catch a glimpse of Mont Blanc!

Let's explore Mont Poupet!

Charming villages everywhere you look!

There are so many picturesque little villages in the Jura Mountains. Some of them are well-hidden and others are up in the mountains, perfectly blended into the surrounding wilderness and mountainous scenery.

From Salins-les-Bains, you can set off to explore these places, and you're guaranteed to be leaving with unforgettable memories.

• Lods and Château-Chalon, both bearing the 'Most Beautiful Village of France' label
• The classified village of Baume-les-Messieurs, surrounded by waterfalls and pocket valleys
• Arbois, capital of the Jura wines and a 'Town of Character' in the Franche-Comté region
• Poligny, the comté cheese capital
• And of course, all the charming villages that make the Jura Mountains such a wonderful destination