Salies-de-Béarn: Museums, Exhibitions & Discounts

Salies-de-Béarn is a historic commune located in southwestern France, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. The town is primarily known for its rich salt-making heritage, with natural salt springs that have been exploited since prehistoric times. The name "Salies" itself derives from the Latin word for salt. The town developed around this salt industry, which has shaped both its architecture and cultural identity.

Today, Salies-de-Béarn maintains its traditional character with its timber-framed houses and narrow streets, while also operating as a spa town where visitors can experience the therapeutic properties of its salt waters. The local architecture reflects the prosperity brought by the salt trade, particularly visible in the old quarter's well-preserved buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries. The town continues to celebrate its salt-making tradition through various cultural events and maintains the Salt Museum, which documents this important aspect of its heritage.