Écomusée du Marais Salant, Salt marsh museum in Loix, France
The Écomusée du Marais Salant is a museum set directly within active salt marshes on Oléron Island. Visitors walk through the working ponds to see how salt farmers harvest salt using age-old methods.
Salt harvesting in this region dates back several centuries and remains active today. The museum was established in 1997 to document and preserve these traditional methods before they disappear.
The name comes directly from the salt-making tradition that has shaped life here for generations. You can watch workers in action and feel how this craft remains central to the local identity.
The site is easily accessible from the main roads of Oléron Island with parking available nearby. Wear comfortable shoes since you will be walking on paths around the ponds and surfaces can be wet or muddy.
The salt ponds support rare plants like samphire adapted to extreme salt conditions that grow along the paths. These specialized habitats also attract migrating birds that pass through regularly during their seasonal journeys.
Location: Charente-Maritime
Location: Loix
Address: Route de la passe
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 14:30-18:00
Phone: +33546290677
Website: https://marais-salant.com
GPS coordinates: 46.22057,-1.45835
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:47
The Île de Ré reveals preserved sites beyond its main destinations. The salt marshes of Loix and the Lilleau des Niges Nature Reserve host more than 300 species of migratory birds, while the Baleines Lighthouse offers a view of the Atlantic Ocean. Beaches such as Trousse Chemise and Les Grenettes are characterized by their natural dunes and conditions suitable for water sports. The Fier d'Ars Port maintains its traditional fishing activity with boats and houses with green shutters. The Salt Eco-museum traces the history of salt harvesting and the work of salt workers in the marshes. The Baleines Farm combines agricultural production with shellfish farming near the coast. Villages like Loix offer traditional shops and exhibitions on local customs. These sites reflect the maritime heritage and traditions shaping the island's identity for generations.
Église Saint-Étienne d'Ars-en-Ré
4.6 km
Réserve naturelle nationale de Lilleau des Niges
3.9 km
Loix tide mill
1.6 km
Saint Catherine Church of Loix
1.4 km
Maison du Fier
4.1 km
Couvent des Sœurs de la Sagesse
1.6 km
Manoir d'Ars-en-Ré
4.7 km
Raffinerie à sel d'Ars-en-Ré
4.4 km
Plage du Petit Sergent
6 km
Pointe du Grouin
3.8 km
Plage de Trousse Chemise
1.8 km
La Ferme des Baleines
5.7 km
Plage des Anneries
4.4 km
Fort de Grouin
3.7 km
Kora-Karola Battery
5.8 km
Plage Gros Jonc
4.2 km
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Annonciation de La Couarde-sur-Mer
4 km
Church of the Portes-en-Ré
4.5 km
Golf de Trousse-Chemise
2.8 km
Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Flux-et-des-Reflux des Portes-en-Ré
3.7 km
Plage naturiste du Peu Bernard
4.9 km
Marais du Fier d'Ars
1.1 km
Plage du Grand Marchais
5 km
Plage de l'Anse du Fourneau
2.4 km
Plage de la Loge
3.3 km
Carrousel Park
3.6 km
Maison-Phare de Trousse-Chemise
2.3 km
Plage de la Chargé Neuve
4.6 kmReviews
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