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The Salt Marshes: The sea in the land |
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// Salt
An ancient inheritance of Loire-Atlantique,
the salt marshes form a unique environment,
combining a stunning landscape
with ancestral skills and culinary
traditions.
A mosaic of salt flats, channels and pools,
the “white country” has very distinctive
landscapes and architecture. It is also
remarkable for its ornithological interest.
For all these reasons, the salt marshes
are a listed “Grand site national”.
In the Middle Ages, the creation of salt
works in the Guérande and Bourgneuf
marshes was the beginning of the trade
in locally-produced salt, essential in those
days for preserving food. This trade reached
its height in the 15th century, declining
in the last century. The culture of the
salt works was relaunched in Guérande
twenty years ago.
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The salt marshes now cover 2,000 hectares
(over 4,940 acres). More than 250
paludiers or salt extraction workers, with
no mechanical assistance, harvest a salt
that is renowned for its natural richness,
and is not washed or processed chemically
in any way.
As proof of its quality, Guérande’s “white
gold” was the first product of the sea to
be granted a red label in 1991.
The salt harvesting lasts barely three
months, generally from mid-May to mid-
September. Most of the salt harvested is
cooking salt. The rarer fleur de sel, or
best-quality unrefined salt, is known for
its fineness, its natural white colour and
its aroma of violets… |
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// USEFUL INFORMATION
/ Twenty or so restaurants in the département are taking part in the “Qualité France” programme, which aims to promote fresh, regional produce with transparency and respect for tradition. |
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