Due to the visionary ingenuity of the architect Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, the Royal Saltworks of Chaux constitute a historical monument of great importance; part of the world-wide heritage, it is classified as an UNESCO site.

Its owners, the Doubs departement, have patiently restored over the last 60 years this unique testimony of the industrial architecture dating from the Age of Enlightenment. The Claude-Nicolas Ledoux Institute looks after the site since 1972.