Sečoveljske Soline, or the Sečovlje Salt Pans, are located just south of Portorož on the Slovenian coast, close to the Croatian border at the Dragonja river estuary. This is a poetic landscape steeped in history, where salt has been farmed for over 1000 years. It is also an important wetland bird sanctuary and nature reserve. All in all it is a great place to visit if you are looking for a peaceful and inspiring way to spend an afternoon while in the area.
History of the Sečoveljske Soline
The first recorded mention of the salt pans of Piran (formed of the Sečoveljske Soline and the nearby Strunjanske Soline) is in a document from 804 AD. From 933, salt pans in this area were used to provide salt for the Venetian Republic, of which Slovenian Istria was a part at this time. By 1460, the Piran Salt Pans had become some of the largest and most important in the Republic.
The operation was taken over by the Austrian empire in 1797, after the fall of the Venetian Republic. In 1903, the Austrian Government purchased the smaller salt farming operations at Sečovlje and expanded and consolidated them in order to step up production and gain advantage in a competitive market. In 1918, the Salt Pans were taken over by the Italians as part of the Free Territory of Trieste and reconstructed, improving the quality and quantity of their yield. In 1957 the Salt Pans came under Yugoslavian governance, which saw further reconstruction and increased harvest. In 1960 the operation was obtained by the Piranske Soline company and partially industrialised. The area became a dedicated nature reserve in 1990, the same year that Slovenia gained independence, and in 1992, the reserve was recognised as a wetland of international importance.
The Soline Today
Piranske Soline still produces sea salt in the traditional way, and their salt has I.G.P. (Protected Geographical Indication) status. The Sečoveljske Soline is a functioning salt farm, wetland bird sanctuary and museum of salt farming. It is a 1.3km walk from the car park to the visitor centre, and the views afforded by this walk are expansive and picturesque. Over the centuries, many artists have been drawn to this unique and magical landscape.
It is also possible to cycle around the nature reserve, and those with limited mobility can take an electric vehicle tour during normal operation (at present the options are limited due to covid restrictions.) At the visitor centre you can find out more about the traditional salt-making process, and watch a fascinating video documenting the history of salt production in the area. See the now-abandoned salt-workers’ houses when they were bustling with life at a time when all farming operations were carried out manually. There is also a cafe and a shop where you can buy all manner of products made using Piran Salt.
If you enjoyed this Postcard from Slovenia, you can find more images from the Sečoveljske Soline on Instagram. Stay tuned for further postcards, which I will send as soon as I have something new and exciting to write about!
Ingrid
This is a fascinating look at a place I’d never heard of before, and now would like to know more about. Thank you for this enticing snapshot!
You’re most welcome 😊
This is fascinating–so many levels–the history, the natural beauty, the salt industry, the wetlands. . .It looks like a wonderful place to explore. Thank you for sharing.
The history of this part of the world is also so interesting. I can imagine all the various bureaucracies and language changes the people went through.
Thank you Merril. It’s true this land has witnessed many changes over a relatively short period of time.
Bela Imagem
Very interesting and informative post, Ingrid. We use sea salt because of its trace minerals. <3 Have a great day!
Thanks, you too Cheryl ❤️
lovely pictures and love the history and the sea salt. We use himmalayan sea salt for all of the properties in it which reminds me I need another grinder ( mine broke) perfect place to get one. I’m gonna soak in it tomorrow .. xo❤️💖
Thanks – I hope you are enjoying your trip 🥰
yep….sooooo lovely 🙏🌷🥰
A good example of how civilization can be integrated into the landscape. (K)
Very true.
Wow, them salt pans! Windows to the sky!
[aside] As you will know, they call the folk of South Shields ‘sand dancers’, but reasons why vary – they have a ‘camel day’ in December, which I take as an allusion to Stan Laurel who schooled locally and, by some loose logic I suppose, the Sons of The Desert fan club (?). But the most convincing – or at least poetic and romantic – reason, to me, is that the vast salt pans used to boil on the beach (all the way back to Roman times and probably before) and that the steam from the saline would – from this side of the river – make the figures working there shimmer and shimmy in the heat.
Thank you for the postcard
WYWH x
That is not only a romantic but a poetic reason! I knew the name but not that there were salt pans there once…would make an excellent story I think! X