Salinas de Añana in 30 seconds
About 140 inhabitants (142 in 2024, INE, for the municipality of Añana, which comprises Salinas de Añana, its main village, and Atiega). 30 km from Vitoria-Gasteiz. Basque name: Gesaltza Añana. The village, in Álava, revolves around its Salt Valley (Valle Salado), one of the oldest salt production sites in the world still in operation.
A little history
Neolithic: the oldest traces of salt extraction go back some 7,000 years.
Roman times: evaporation pans appear.
1140: Salinas de Añana is granted town status (villa).
1564–1869: a royal salt monopoly, introduced by Philip II, keeps production under strict control.
20th century: cheaper sea salt leads to the near-abandonment of the salt works and the decay of its structures.
1984: the valley is declared a Site of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural); restoration work begins.
2002: listed as a Ramsar wetland.
2009: the Valle Salado Foundation, a non-profit organisation that manages the site, is set up.
2012: added to Spain’s tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage status.
2015: Grand Prix of the jury at the Europa Nostra Awards.
2017: the FAO recognises it as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS), a first in Europe.
2019: the valley becomes an anchor point of the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH).
What to see
The terraced salt pans
THE place to see. Across 13 hectares, the eras (evaporation platforms, 12 to 20 m² each) rise in terraces, some of them more than eight metres high; over 2,000 are in production today. Beneath the valley lies an ancient marine salt deposit formed some 200 million years ago. Four usable springs — Santa Engracia, La Hontana, El Pico and Fuentearriba — provide a constant flow of near-saturated brine, which runs through more than four kilometres of wooden channels. Sun and wind evaporate the water and the salt crystallises. The valley now produces five natural salts.
More than a million people have already walked its paths.
The site can be visited on guided tours: times and booking on the official Valle Salado Foundation website.
Salinas salt
The artisan salt produced in the valley is sold on site.
Getting there
- By car: the most practical way to get there from Vitoria-Gasteiz
My favourite photo
The terraces from above at sunset, when the low light brings out the geometry of the eras and the whiteness of the salt. Or the salt harvest in summer.
Sources
- Turismo Euskadi (Basque Government) — Valle Salado de Salinas de Añana (in Spanish)
- Álava Turismo (Álava provincial council) — Valle Salado (in Spanish)
- Wikipedia: Salt Valley of Añana (en), Añana (es) (INE 2024 population)
Ongi etorri Gesaltza Añanara — Welcome to Salinas de Añana.