The salt production in Aigues-Mortes
goes back to Antiquity. Peccius, a Roman engineer at the start
of the Christian Era, was put in charge of organising salt
production.
In 1856, the different salt marsh owners united to found the
Salins du Midi (Saltworks of the South). |
 The
colouring, water rose, is linked to the proliferation
of micro-organisms of a microscopic algae variety called
"dunaliella salina".
On the salt marshes of Aigues-Mortes, the exploitation
of l'Artemia Salina complements the salt producing activities.
Artemia constitutes quality feed for fish and crustaceans.
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With the development of
the chemical industry, salt production became one of
the biggest activities in the Camargue; chlorine and
soda, salt extracts, enter into the composition of many
chemical and pharmaceutical products. The preconcentration
and evaporation basins of Salin-de-Giraud cover 14,000 hectares.
The salt marshes of Aigues Mortes are devoted to the
production of quality sea-salt, essentially destined
for the food trade. |
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| In the continuation of the guilds
of master saltworkers (12th century), the Brotherhood of Sea
Salt takes up tradition's torch and carries on the sublimation
of one of the most indispensable products in Man's life, which
in addition to its gastronomic virtues, conveys symbolic spiritual
and universal values. |
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