Source de Loue to Salins les Bains

Travelled: 84km

Stay: Salins les Bains - free car park and services N46.93254 E5.87899

Another beautiful day. We headed off after we consulted the maps and brochures we got from the tourist information bureau and figured out which direction we wanted to go! Too many choices. The salt factory of Salins les Bains was our destination. On the way we stopped at the source of the Loue River, which comes out of an underground cave that is 1.2 km long and 40 m deep. Back in the day there was a small village taking advantage of the natural water power with lots of different kinds of mills. We walked for an hour along a very pretty forest walk along the right bank, which offered views of the gorge. Then we doubled back and went along the left bank to a water fall. 

A small church of angles perched in a field on to of a hill.

After some lunch we drove through dairy farm country and down to Salins les Bains. We visited the Salt factory and descended down to the underground well (now dry). The water they are still pumping from 246m down  has a salt content of 330gm per 1 litre of water. Unfortunately due to the cost of evaporating the salt, the factory closed in 1972 after being founded in the 700's. Now they use the water to keep the roads ice free in winter and for remedial purposes at the Baths. We decided to stay in the carpark, which is right in the centre of town, as the lady at the information centre said we could, even though there is a free aire 500m up the road. We just love France for its Motorhome friendly attitude.