DISCOVER THE MARAIS SALANTS DE LA VIE SALT MARSHES
The Marais Salants de la Vie salt marshes are a natural site on the edge of Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, just 5 minutes from Flower Camping Au Bois des Biches. It is a beautiful place to visit, and its historical and tourist heritage is a source of pride for the Saint-Gilles area.
A SHORT HISTORY OF THE MARAIS SALANTS DE LA VIE
The salt marshes were shaped by hand, starting in the Middle Ages, around the 7th century. The Marais Salants de la Vie themselves were created in the 1700s, and from the mid-19th century they covered an area of 1,000 hectares in the Vie valley. However, after some periods of activity, they were gradually abandoned, until 1970, in favour of fish ponds.
Twenty years later, in 1990, former salt pans were restored exactly as they once were. It was a way of bringing back the white gold trade to Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, and it is this very activity that draws visitors to the Marais Salants de la Vie today.
THE SALT MARSHES: A REAL DRAW FOR VISITORS
Discovering age-old traditions and the stages of salt-making, passed down over the centuries, is one of the great attractions of these marshes. It is also a chance to understand the work of the salt worker and appreciate the gestures handed down through generations.
The Marais Salants de la Vie offer a natural landscape protected under the French Coastal Act and classified as a Natura 2000 site. As well as uncovering the secrets of white gold and the specialist techniques and tools of the trade, visitors can enjoy the marshes’ flora and fauna.
Species such as swans, avocets and magnificent cormorants can be spotted in this natural area. Tasting the white gold of these marshes is a treat for the taste buds, and its unique flavours are sure to appeal to every visitor.
THINGS TO DO AT THE SALT MARSHES
Want to find out what a salt worker does?
To see the traditional techniques and the work of the salt harvester up close, come for a stroll through the salt marshes. As well as a guided tour, you can enjoy a samphire tasting. You can also spot the wildlife and plants of the marshes, including herons, egrets, marsh harriers and wild ducks.
