Musée Claude-Nicolas Ledoux d'Arc-et-Senans

The Musée Claude-Nicolas Ledoux is an architecture museum located within the Royal Saltworks complex, displaying scale models and drawings of the architect's work. The site itself has been a UNESCO World Heritage location since 1982 and combines original 18th-century structures with modern exhibition spaces.

Ledoux designed the saltworks in the late 18th century as an innovative project meant to unite production and architecture. The museum itself opened in 1991 to preserve his artistic legacy and his revolutionary ideas about city planning.

The collection reveals how Ledoux viewed buildings as places where work and society should unite. His designs for theaters, homes, and public spaces reflect his belief that architecture could shape how people lived and interacted.

The museum offers guided tours through various thematic areas that work for both newcomers and architecture enthusiasts. The exhibition spreads across the entire site, so visitors should wear comfortable shoes and plan for two to three hours of exploration.

The architect planned to create an ideal city here where workers could live and work in comfort, a radical concept for the 18th century. Many of his designs for this dream settlement were never built, but the models reveal his visionary thinking today.

Location: Arc-et-Senans

Official opening: May 24, 1991

Part of: Chaux

Website: http://salineroyale.com

GPS coordinates: 47.03218,5.77729

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:24