The Salinas de Añana have been producing salt using the same methods for over 6,000 years. This is not a museum — it is a living, working landscape where food heritage and ecology meet in one of the most extraordinary sites in Europe
Gastronomy · Heritage · Ecotourism
Gastronomic Journey: Roman Saltworks & Medieval Heritage
Six Thousand Years of Salt — the World's Oldest Food Heritage Site
The Salinas de Añana have been in continuous operation since at least 4,000 BC. The Romans worked them. Medieval abbeys controlled them. Today, a dedicated foundation is restoring the ancient wooden platforms and reviving traditional salt-making methods that almost disappeared.
Living Heritage & Sustainable Food Production
The brine-fed wetlands at Añana support rare halophytic plant communities found almost nowhere else in the region. The restoration project is both a cultural and ecological act. We travel by electric van.
Tour Highlights
Salinas de Añana (6,000 years)
The oldest continuously operating salt works in Europe — hand-harvested using methods unchanged for millennia.
Halophytic Wetland Ecology
Rare salt-tolerant plant communities of significant ecological value, fed by natural brine springs.
Álava Medieval Villages
Fortified villages and Romanesque churches in the Álava countryside — a medieval landscape barely on any tourist map.
Salt & Basque Gastronomy
Salt as the foundation of Basque food culture — from salt cod (bacalao) to the curing traditions that define the cuisine.
Living Restoration Project
The Valle Salado Foundation rebuilding ancient infrastructure and reviving traditional knowledge in real time.
Ancient Pilgrim Routes
The medieval pilgrim routes and Romanesque heritage of Álava, connecting the Salinas to centuries of cultural history.
Multi-day versions of this tour that include overnight accommodation are organised and operated through Ulle Gorri Travel — Licensed Travel Agency CEI: 2437.
Private Day Tour
Fully customizable · No set schedule
GROUP SIZE
Up to 7 people
Transport
Mercedes-Benz eVito Tourer Long
Language
English · Spanish · French · Basque
Type
Private tours
Commitment
Sustainable & responsible tourism
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