Salies De Bearn Otbdg Ms 2 Office De Tourisme Du Bearn Des Gaves
|
Transport tip:
Depart from Pau at 7.02 am on the TER L52 service towards Orthez. Arrive at Orthez at 7.29 am at the SNCF station.
Change to bus line 523 at 8.00 am. Arrive at Salies-de-Béarn at 8.41 am at the ‘Casino’ stop.
Bus 523 (does not run on Sundays or public holidays).
Tickets can be purchased on board the bus in cash only: €4.50 return
(timetables and fares to be confirmed in advance on the websites: SNCF Connect or Citram Pyrénées)
Salies De Bearn 03
|
Salies Marche Otbdg Ms 5 Bearn Des Gaves Tourist Office
|
I start my day at the market in Salies-de-Béarn, right in the heart of the town. On Thursday mornings, the stalls are set up right in the centre and under the market hall: seasonal produce, local specialities, wonderful smells… I take the time to look around, taste the goods and have a chat. Here, the market is an integral part of life in Salies.
What I love most of all is the atmosphere. I’m not here to take part in an event organised for visitors: I’m slipping into a genuine local gathering, a place where people meet up, catch up on the latest news and where producers are happy to talk about their produce. A lovely way to start the day and gently get a feel for the ‘city of salt’…
Markets in Salies-de-Béarn:
Thursday mornings, from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm.
A food market is also held on Saturday mornings in the market hall, from 8.00 am to 12.30 pm.
Did you know that the market in Salies-de-Béarn is one of the most renowned markets in Béarn?
In 2021, it was even voted the department’s “Most Beautiful Market” thanks to its friendly atmosphere, its local producers and its colourful stalls in the heart of the ‘city of salt’…
My visit continues a few hundred metres from the town centre (850 metres from Place du Bayaa, a 10-minute walk): I head towards the Salies-de-Béarn saltworks and very quickly discover that salt has quite a story to tell here.
I start by getting a bird’s-eye view from the outdoor viewing platform, which is freely accessible. In front of me, the saltworks are in full swing. I watch the various stages of production, right through to the crystallisation of this famous spring salt. As luck would have it, the teams are working right before my eyes today, and I can even witness the delicate harvesting of the salt flakes with a landing net. A precise craft.
I carry on inside the museum area. With the audio guide in my ears, I travel back in time: the development of Salies-de-Béarn, the history of the saltworks and, of course, the unmissable legend of the wild boar. The tour is engaging and easy to follow (and the audio guide is also available in English and Spanish!).
And then comes the long-awaited moment: the tasting. I sample Bayonne ham seasoned with salt from the Salines’ spring. Having learnt how this salt is produced, finding it on my plate inevitably lends a special flavour to this fine product of our culinary heritage.
Before leaving, I pop into the shop one last time. It’s hard to resist: I leave with a little salt and a few cured products. A lovely way to extend the experience once I’m back home.
Salines de Béarn
|
Salines de Béarn
|
Salt 02: Salies-de-Bearn Saltworks
Casabelle Dessert
|
Casabelle dish
|
Casabelle is a restaurant situated next to the spa. Cédric, the chef, offers bistronomic cuisine that blends tradition with modernity. The menu is concise (everything is homemade) and features fresh produce, with a particular focus on regional ingredients, and changes with the seasons. You can also enjoy the leafy, shaded terrace.
For lunch, step inside Maison Eztia, nestled in one of the oldest houses in Salies-de-Béarn. In a cosy setting combining stone, wood and a homely atmosphere, local produce takes centre stage in the generous, seasonal bistronomic cuisine. The sort of place where you settle in for lunch… and where you’re happy to linger a little longer over a pastry or a coffee.
Eztia House No. 2 Tea Room
|
Eztia Salies Otbdg Ms 30
|
For the rest of my afternoon, I have two options: to delve into the fascinating history of salt, or to treat myself to a spot of relaxation at the Salisian thermal baths.
Musee Du Sel Et Des Traditions Bearnaises Salies Otbdg Ms 30 Office De Tourisme Du Bearn Des Gaves
|
Crypt Salies Otbdg Ms Office De Tourisme Du Bearn Des Gaves
|
Salies De Bearn 12
|
Musee Du Sel Et Des Traditions Bearnaises Salies Otbdg Ms 99 Office De Tourisme Du Bearn Des Gaves
|
Salies De Bearn Musee Du Sel Pays De Bearn Adrien Basse Cathalinat
|
Musee Du Sel Et Des Traditions Bearnaises Salies Otbdg Ms 118 Office De Tourisme Du Bearn Des Gaves
|
Salt Museum 003 Aadt64 N.lomenie
|
I push open the doors of the Salt Museum and delve a little deeper into the town’s history. As I make my way through the galleries, I discover exhibits on salt water, the salt pans, local traditions and this precious resource that has shaped the town for centuries.
Little by little, I realise that here, salt is not simply a product: it is part of Salies-de-Béarn’s identity and heritage.
After wandering through the town’s narrow streets, I slow down a little. I head for the Salies-de-Béarn thermal baths, renowned for their naturally salt-rich water.
I treat myself to a moment all to myself – a wellness break in a place intimately linked to the town’s history. It’s another way to discover Salies: this time, I’m not just hearing about its salt water… I’m making the most of it!
A gentle break that naturally extends my day in the heart of this spa town unlike any other.
(Please note: subject to annual closure in January)
Selya Resort Thermal Et Spa Otbdg Ms 4 Office De Tourisme Du Bearn Des Gaves
|
Thermes De Salies De Bearn Winter Unduvetpour2
|
Thermes 02 Selya Resort Thermal Spa
|
Salies-de-Bearn: Façade of the Baths – Florence Lasaga
|
Thermes De Salies Fleur De Sel Scrub 002 Thermes Salies P.mahe
|
Salt Festival 2022
|
Salies De Bearn Cascade Pays De Bearn Adrien Bassa Cathalinat
|
Salies De Bearn 07
|
Before setting off again, I treat myself to one last stroll along the Saleys. I slow my pace and savour the charm of Salies-de-Béarn a little longer. Old houses line the river, balconies add life to the façades, and the water quietly accompanies my final steps through the ‘city of salt’. I love this moment at the end of the day – calmer, almost suspended in time.
I take one last look at the pretty façades of the Salies houses in these narrow, winding alleyways before heading back to Pau. A lovely way to bring this little escapade in Béarn to a close… already longing to return.
After a day spent exploring the heritage, traditions and flavours of the Béarn region, it’s time for me to leave Salies-de-Béarn, ‘the Venice of the Béarn’.
Transport tip:
Departure from Salies-de-Béarn at 5.31 pm from the Casino stop. Arrival at Orthez at 6.08 pm at the SNCF station.
Change to the TER service towards Pau at 6.21 pm. Arrival at Pau station at 6.46 pm.
