LES SALINS DU CASTELLAS
SETE
Presentation
On the shores of the Mediterranean, the Castellas salt pans tell a fascinating story of nature and heritage. Formerly operated by the Compagnie des Salins du Midi, they produced unwashed salt for tanneries, livestock farming and the chemical industry, rather than for food. Production was low and irregular, and gradually became less profitable, until it ceased altogether in 1968.
But traces of the past are still clearly visible. Take a stroll around the site, and you'll see the old salt pans - known as partènements - lined with dikes and wooden cayrels. Little by little, nature is transforming these remains. The landscape is coming alive with the natural recolonization of sansouïre, salt meadows and temporary lagoons.
It was in 1779, thanks to the intervention of the Duchesse de Villeroy, that Louis XVI authorized the creation of a saltworks on this coastal strip between Sète and Agde. Today, this remarkable 400-hectare site is classified as a protected wetland. It belongs to the Conservatoire du Littoral, which entrusts its management to Sète agglopôle Méditerranée.
A place to discover for its calm, natural beauty and rich past.
During your visit, remember to preserve the beauty of this exceptional site by respecting the flora and fauna, as well as the tranquility of the area and other visitors who also come to enjoy this unspoilt nature.
But traces of the past are still clearly visible. Take a stroll around the site, and you'll see the old salt pans - known as partènements - lined with dikes and wooden cayrels. Little by little, nature is transforming these remains. The landscape is coming alive with the natural recolonization of sansouïre, salt meadows and temporary lagoons.
It was in 1779, thanks to the intervention of the Duchesse de Villeroy, that Louis XVI authorized the creation of a saltworks on this coastal strip between Sète and Agde. Today, this remarkable 400-hectare site is classified as a protected wetland. It belongs to the Conservatoire du Littoral, which entrusts its management to Sète agglopôle Méditerranée.
A place to discover for its calm, natural beauty and rich past.
During your visit, remember to preserve the beauty of this exceptional site by respecting the flora and fauna, as well as the tranquility of the area and other visitors who also come to enjoy this unspoilt nature.
- Equipment :
- Coastal natural areas
Destination
LES SALINS DU CASTELLAS
Route de Sète
34200
SETE
GPS coordinates
Latitude : 43.3093622
Longitude : 3.5144568