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About this place
The Museum of the Salt Mine of Bex (Mines de Sel de Bex) sits in the town of Bex, in the Swiss canton of Vaud. It combines a working salt mine with a museum that traces extraction from 1684 to the present day, and you reach the galleries by mine train.
What is the Bex salt mine?
Salt deposits around Bex were found in the 15th century and are still worked today. They date back to a time when, according to regional accounts, a shallow sea covered what is now the Rhône Valley. Inside the mountain runs a tunnel network more than 50 km long. Output is quoted at roughly 30,000 to 35,000 tonnes a year, and the salt is sold under the "Sel des Alpes" name, including herbal blends. The mine is operated by the Salines Suisses group.
What will you see on the tour?
Visits are guided only and last about two hours. A small mine train carries you into the mountain, and part of the route is on foot. The permanent exhibition is housed in a former brine reservoir cut in 1826, where old extraction tools emerge from niches in the walls. The story runs from the first gallery, dug in 1684, up to modern operations.
There is a political twist too. In 1865 the canton of Vaud wanted to shut the mines, but local people resisted. In 1867 they secured a fifty-year concession and set up a joint-stock company.
Which tour formats are available?
- The standard guided visit with the mine train and museum.
- A lantern tour of a little over two hours, closer to what miners experienced.
- Adventure routes through historic galleries, including the Coulat gallery.
How should you prepare?
The tunnel floor is uneven and damp, so wear sturdy shoes. Schedules and prices vary by season, and booking ahead is strongly recommended, so check mines.ch for current details. Do not confuse the mine with the nearby Saline de Bex.
Where is it and how do you get there?
Bex lies in the Rhône Valley on the railway line and has its own station. The site is at about 46.278 N, 7.027 E.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit without a guide? No. Entry is only with a guided group.
How long does a visit take? Plan on about two hours for the standard tour and around two hours fifteen for the lantern tour.
Is the mine still operating? Yes. Salt is extracted to this day, at tens of thousands of tonnes a year.
Do I need to book? Reservations are strongly recommended, especially in high season and at weekends.
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