French coarse sea salt from Guerande Le Guerandais-gros sel de Guerande - 1000 gr

Product Information

There are many traces of medieval times in the narrow streets of Guérande, like the ramparts still present in their entirety. Classified as Historical Monuments, they allow to appreciate the centuries of history which succeeded in the city. Thus, the Porte de Saillé dates from the 12th century, while the Porte Vannetaise reveals a typical architecture of the second half of the 13th century. As you walk through these ancient defenses, do not miss the Saint-Jean tower, from the 15th century, or the splendor of the Saint-Michel gate. Monumental, the latter was built at the beginning of the XVIIth century and unveils the coat of arms of the city of Guérande, two helmeted lions. Long of more than 1400 meters, the ramparts are the occasion of a beautiful walk in the oldest parts of the places. Every Friday in July and August, the Saint-Aubin collegiate church hosts the La Voix des Orgues music festival with various concerts. This village is situated in the heart of the salt marshes. Like Clis, there are many typical houses of salt workers.

Every year in May, Guérande offers its famous medieval festival. Each year, the themes chosen reflect the history of the city, from the late Middle Ages to the present day, offering costumed re-enactments as well as various festive animations. Jean of Montfort, ( John IV) Duke of Brittany, demanded that the town be properly protected, by improving its fortifications. Work started soon after and continued for more than a century, with the town's architecture adapted to reflect the latest developments in siege and artillery. To enable production in the salt marshes, it is necessary to have shallow crystallisation ponds, of small size to avoid ripples, which if there is wind, would cause the flower of salt to sink.

The second Treaty of Guérande (1381) established Brittany's neutrality in the Anglo-French conflict, and was accorded between Duke John V of Brittany and King Charles VI of France. Occurs in early August each year. This festival crosses multiple origins and styles of dance music, traditional singing tales, from the most authentic blend of culture forms.

Notre-Dame la Blanche Church. Listed building in 1910. Built in Gothic style in the 14th century under Jean de Montfort, is the oldest building in the medieval city. The Peninsula represented an important crossroads for these and other tribes, as it was surrounded by waterways. One waterway was the river Vilaine, used by the tribes Redones and Veneti. The Loire river was used by the tribes Namnetes and Pictones, and the Atlantic Ocean was used by the tribes Veneti and by Greek traders. Very badly damaged during the Breton Wars of Succession, the Collegiate Church was restored in time for the signing of the first peace treaty in 1365. Various building projects succeeded one another until the 18th century, improving and adding new features: choir and chevet (15th–16th centuries), Baroque altarpieces and stalls (17th century). But hardly had this work been completed, than the church found itself in the midst of the French Revolution. The salt of Guérande used to be traded throughout Brittany, tax free until Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte decided to tax it resulting in the beginning of a decline of salt activity. It suffered little damage, other than to the windows. However, the Revolution led to major structural changes, since, in 1792, the status of Collegiate Church was abolished and the canons exiled to Spain.This salt is completely as nature created it - unwashed, unground, unrefined - nothing added or removed at all. The crystals obtained are completely different: small inversed pyramids, crumbly and transient for flower of salt, and clumps of harder cubes, depending on the time they spend in the water, for coarse salt. For cooking, Guérande salt is the most appreciated by cooks and great chefs in France and abroad. It can be used with a wide variety of dishes and preparations. History is an eternal cycle. In Guérande (Loire-Atlantique), salt producers are long-accustomed to fighting to defend their craftsmanship. After thwarting a bypass project in the early 1970s that threatened many of the salt marshes, more than 200 salt workers joined together in 1988 to form a co-operative aiming to make Guérande salt the leading salt in France. Obtaining an "organic" label for Atlantic sea salt (Guérande peninsula, the islands of Noirmoutier and Ré) is in their sights, but competition in Europe is fierce and the ongoing lobbying is intensifying.

Salt forms part of many religious ceremonies and is a sign of hospitality when it is placed on the table. The pond of Mès, a smaller area, to Mesquer. It is the pond salicole most well known in northern Europe. Health authorities in many countries recommend a reduction in salt consumption, however, it must be noted that they are talking about refined salt. This is not the same as sea salt. Guérande salt is a concentration of sea water, and contains less sodium chloride. Different salts dissolve at different speeds and sometimes take time to disperse. Always go easy on the salt to start with – it’s better to add more later than to add too much. Temperature makes a difference as well: a dish that has been salted to taste whilst cold might be too salty after heating. Be especially careful with sauces and stews that reduce down during cooking; only add a very small amount of salt to begin with.Salt and fleur de sel are formed by wind and sun, however, fleur de sel is a little more capricious.

During the Middle Ages, the town had a very rich history, with many important events. It was also the capital of the Pays Guérandais, an ancient region of the Duchy of Brittany. The salterns of Guérande are a swamp of salt water about 1 700 hectares in size. The current saltmarshes began before the 9th century and lasted for several centuries. Around the year 1500, the marshes reached 80% of the current surface. The latest were built around 1800. In the middle of the 19th century, a gradual decline started for different reasons: competition from a salt mine, lower consumption of salt as a product of conservation and improvement of transport by land.

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Heritage [ edit ] Guerande map, vieille ville Medieval town [ edit ] Ramparts (15th–16th century) [ edit ] Gray salt is mainly used for cooking water but it can also be used for various tips in our daily life. Sea, sun, wind and craftsmanship come together to create this exceptional sea salt in a wetland long ago wrested by man from the Atlantic. Out of the clay soil came not only the salt marshes, glistening in the sun with their 7,000 crystallisation ponds, but all around them this ecologically unique, natural landscape with its very own protected flora and fauna. Between the headlands of Pen Bron and the coast of the quaint fishing village Le Croisic is a large reservoir that the supplies the ètiers, the channels of the salt marshes, with water in tandem with the tides. In the harvesting ponds known as oeilettes, the sun and wind cause the water to evaporate and the sea salt begins to crystallise on the bottom of the ponds. The salt farmer or paludier uses a kind of shovel known as a cimauge to drag the salt to the edges of the 10-40 cm-deep pond, where it is allowed to dry in direct sunlight for another day in special recesses. The bottoms of the oeilettes themselves must never be allowed to dry out completely, and therein lies the great art of the salt farmer: he works continually to regulate the water level perfectly and maintain a constant salt concentration in the channels and ponds – taking into account the weather, number of hours of sun and wind strength. Harvesting begins in June at the earliest and lasts until September, throughout the rest of the year the farmers are busy keeping the ponds clean and level. Traditionally harvested Atlantic Sea Salt from the Celtic Sea coast of Brittany. Natural crystals of sea salt that has not been ground, and as such appears as a coarse grey Celtic sea salt.