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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The salt spring of Tarton is a medieval well located on the right bank of the Salaou torrent, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. Its water, from the leaching of evaporated rocks, was less salty than that of Moriez thanks to its mixture with a soft tablecloth. The building, of square section, is composed of a hardwood formwork sheltered under a vault in a full-circle cradle, without cover. The walls in rough rubble, partially destroyed, are blind except to the south, where a door and a monooxyl pipe ensure discharge.

The source was granted to the inhabitants of Tarton in 1402 by Queen Jeanne, becoming a vital resource for the commune. In the 18th century, repairs were undertaken: in 1732, the north and west walls were reconstructed identically, enhanced and crept, while the building was covered with lashes. Achard's Dictionary (1788) describes a double-locked well, filled in 24 hours, which was periodically distributed to residents (every 8 days in summer, 15 in winter).

The abolition of the royal monopoly ended this collective management. The cadastral plan of 1837 mentions a public salt fountain, protected by a dyke. Ranked a historical monument in 1993, the source was restored but lost its practical use, becoming a testimony of the past. Today, it remains as a historical curiosity, a symbol of medieval and modern resource management practices in Provence.

The building, a communal property, includes the well, associated dykes and remains (cadastre ZB 118). Its location near the torrent, although vulnerable to flooding, was strategic to capture saltwater. The successive developments reflect its economic and social importance, from its royal concession to its contemporary heritage protection.

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