​Welcome to the kingdom of ‘Les Paludiers’!

In the heart of the salt workers’ villages of Batz-sur-Mer, Guérande, Mesquer or Saint-Molf, the history of the salt trade has also had its hand in fashioning the houses. The landscape of the salt marshes of Guérande is liberally dotted with ‘salorges’, the large granite warehouses used for stocking the salt.

The 'Paludiers' villages

The paludiers’ traditional houses with their coloured woodwork and slate roofs are indeed a characteristic feature of the landscape. Be sure to stop-off and visit some of the villages to see for yourselves:
  • Saillé, Clis, Quéniquen, Careil near Guérande
  • Kervalet, Roffiat, Trégaté near Batz-sur-Mer
  • Trescalan near La Turballe
  • Boulais, Pendhué near Saint-Molf
  • Kervarin, Kercabellec, Rostu, Penlô near Mesquer
  • Kergéraud, Trélogo, Berzibérin and Pont d'Armes near Assérac
  • - © Mairie de Guérande
  • - © Office de Tourisme de Guérande

The 'Salorges'

Just around the corner from the salt marshes the former salt warehouses, with their unique shape form an imposing feature of the local landscape. These salt storehouses known as ‘les salorges’, became more common in the second half of the XIXth century springing up near to the railway lines and farms. These imposing granite buildings with their large buttresses and slate or tiled roofs are still very much present today. A prime example being the massive monumental salorge in Batz sur Mer. The ‘Musée des Marais Salants’ is in fact in part located in the former salt warehouse belonging to the Bertrand family.
  • - © Terre de sel / Pascal François

Suggestions

  • Marais salants de Guérande - Salorge - Terre de sel / Pascal François
  • Maison paludière de village de Queniquen - Office de Tourisme de Guérande
  • Village paludier de Saillé entouré par les marais salants de Guérande - Mairie de Guérande
Marais salants de Guérande - Salorge - Terre de sel / Pascal FrançoisMaison paludière de village de Queniquen - Office de Tourisme de GuérandeVillage paludier de Saillé entouré par les marais salants de Guérande - Mairie de Guérande