Salt tide, Nature reserve in La Baule-Escoublac, France
The Guérande salt marshes extend across 2,000 hectares, divided between the Traict du Croisic area and the northern Mès salt marshes.
Salt production techniques in these marshes predate the 9th century, with 80 percent of the current surface already in exploitation by 1500.
Salt workers, known as paludiers, maintain and harvest these marshes using traditional methods to produce salt recognized with prestigious Red Label certification.
Three educational centers offer guided visits: Terre de Sel, the Paludiers House in Guérande, and the Salt Marshes Museum in Batz-sur-Mer.
The marshes host 180 bird species and change colors throughout the day, from light gray in morning to white at noon and purple at sunset.
Location: Guérande
Location: Batz-sur-Mer
Location: Le Croisic
Location: La Turballe
Website: https://tourismebretagne.com/destinations/les-10-destinations/bretagne-loire-ocean/guerande-et-ses-marais-salants
Part of: Guérande and Mès salt marshes
Shares border with: La Turballe
Address: D92, 44350 Guérande, France 44350 Guérande
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 09:00-18:00
Phone: +33240620880
GPS coordinates: 47.29630,-2.45356
Latest update: August 11, 2025 09:03
The Pays de la Loire region is full of lesser-known sites revealing the history and diversity of this western France region. Beyond the typical tourist routes, these sites provide an authentic insight into local heritage, craft traditions, and preserved natural landscapes. Among these destinations are castles like Brissac, the tallest in France, and the fortress of Tiffauges, associated with medieval legends. History enthusiasts will appreciate the Gallery of the Apocalypse Tapestry in Angers, a 14th-century textile work, or the Fontevraud Abbey, a remarkable monastic complex. Curious visitors will also find unusual sites such as the Passage du Gois, a tidal road connecting Noirmoutier Island to the mainland depending on the tide, and the Epinay Mill, still operational today. This selection also includes specialized botanical gardens, such as Camifolia in Chemillé, thematic museums dedicated to Jules Verne or early 20th-century rural life, as well as vineyards and manors surrounded by gardens. These locations, often frequented by locals, offer a different perspective for exploring the Pays de la Loire.
Guérande city walls
4 km
St Albinus, Guérande
4 km
Saint-Guénolé, Batz-sur-Mer
2.9 km
Château de Careil
4.1 km
Lunapark
3.5 km
Manoir de Pen Castel
4.2 km
Valentin beach
3.7 km
Notre-Dame-du-Mûrier
3 km
Pen-Bron
4.4 km
Ursuline Convent, Guérande
4 km
Château de Tesson
4.3 km
Château de Trévaly
5.2 km
Notre-Dame-la-Blanche's Chapel
3.9 km
Moulin de la Falaise
3.2 km
St Clair, Saillé
1.7 km
Manoir de Kersalio
4.2 km
Crucifix Chapel
4.1 km
Ancienne criée du Croisic
4.3 km
St Michael's Chapel
4 km
Château de Tuloc
4.3 km
Catherine of Alexandria's Chapel
4.4 km
Manoir de Kerpondarmes
4.3 km
Croix des Douleurs
2.8 km
Musée des marais salants
2.7 km
Ancient cisterns of Trémonday
2.4 km
Le Castel Marie-Louise
3.8 km
St Matthew's Chapel, Careil
3.8 km
Croix du Requer
4.2 kmReviews
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