The Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, near Besancon, was built by Claude Nicolas Ledoux. Its construction, begun in 1775 during the reign of Louis XVI, was the first major achievement of industrial architecture, reflecting the ideal of progress of the Enlightenment. The vast, semicircular complex was designed to permit a rational and hierarchical organization of work and was to have been followed by the building of an ideal city, a project that was never realized. - UNESCO


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Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
1773/04/29 Louis XV of France Owner Louis XV signs the edict authorizing the construction of a Royal Saltworks. It will be the first major achievement of industrial architecture, reflecting the ideal of progress of the Enlightenment.
1774/04/00 Ledoux presents to Louis XV a grandiose salt factory city with buildings planned around the edges of an immense square. The king rejected the project, objecting to the extensive use of columns.
1775/00/00 Claude Nicolas Ledoux Architect Construction begins on a revised semicircular complex at Arc-et-Senans near the immense Chaux Forest to ensure its supply of wood for fuel. The complete plan includes the building of an ideal city forming a perfect circle, like that of the sun. Salt
1778/00/00 The house of the Director, entrance building, salt factory, quarters for carpenters, laborers, marshals and coopers are completed. The rest of the city was never built.
1780/00/00 From 1780 to 1895, salt water from the Great Saltworks of Salins-les-Bains travelle through 21 km of wood pipes to the Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans. Salt

Data »

Particulars for The Royal Salt Works:
Area of Significance Architecture
Sight Category Building
Area of Significance Engineering
Museum Type Historical Museum
Historic Use Processing site
Mineral Salt



Activities »

Activity
Activity Category Tour

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