Avignon - Grenier à Sel, Historic salt storage in Avignon, France
Grenier à Sel is a sturdy stone building positioned along Avignon's ramparts, retaining medieval architectural features from the 1300s. The interior has been modernized to serve as an exhibition space and artist residence with flexible rooms for displays and creative work.
Built in 1363 during the papacy era in Avignon, this structure served as a storage facility for salt under royal monopoly. The building operated as a tax collection point for the salt duties until the revolution changed France.
Today this former warehouse serves as a creative hub where artists work and display contemporary pieces throughout the year. You can walk through and experience performances, exhibitions, and the energy of an active artistic space.
The building sits on Rue du Rempart-Saint-Lazare near the city walls, making it easy to reach on foot. Entry is free, but you should check ahead to see what exhibitions are currently on, as the program changes throughout the year.
The building underwent a major transformation by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte in the 1980s and earned international recognition for this redesign. The renovation demonstrates how a historic industrial building was successfully converted into a functioning contemporary art institution.
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