Grenier à sel

The royal administration set up a trading post (transport customs), a tobacco warehouse and a salt storehouse near the Loire in the lower town, serving around forty parishes in the Mauges. In the 18th century, 13,000 tonnes of salt were shipped up the Loire. Nicknamed “White Gold”, salt is a product used to preserve food. Transported from the Atlantic coast, salt was subject to heavy taxes in the Grande Gabelle region, as in Anjou, and was subject to compulsory purchase. On the other side of the Loire, Brittany was exempt from taxes and sold salt at very low prices, up to 10 times cheaper, which led to active and inevitable smuggling. The bogus sauniers, often fishermen from the Loire whose illegal trade supplemented their income, were hunted down by a company of gabelous, the customs officers, often at night. And yes, all they had to do was cross the Loire to obtain salt more cheaply! Close to the salt store, the administration of the salt store could hand down prison sentences or send offenders to the galleys. Around ten prisoners (men and women) died in its gaols during the great winter of 1709.