Salins de Frontignan, Protected natural area in Frontignan, France.
Salins de Frontignan is a protected area spanning about 282 hectares (697 acres) between the Gardiole massif and the Mediterranean Sea. The site features salt evaporation ponds, drainage channels, and varied habitats that create a complex landscape.
Salt extraction here dates back to the 1300s and was a major industry for centuries. Production stopped in 1968, ending a long period when hundreds of workers depended on this work for their livelihood.
The name reflects its former salt production role, and the landscape still shows the marks of this work through its large water basins and channels. You can see how this economic activity shaped daily life and the land itself over centuries.
The site can be explored on foot or by bicycle using a marked loop trail of about 15.5 kilometers (9.6 miles). The route includes wooden boardwalks in some sections, so sturdy footwear and water are recommended.
The site is home to more than 340 plant species, including 14 rare varieties found nowhere else in the region. It serves as a crucial breeding and feeding ground for pink flamingos and other water birds that gather here in surprisingly large numbers.
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