The installation « Une Mémoire du Lieu » (The Site’s Heritage) installation retraces over 125 years of the history of the Saline Royale, an architectural masterpiece built by the visionary Claude Nicolas Ledoux and included on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2009. 

When Hubert Tassy, Director of the Saline Royale d’Arc-et-Senans, considered the time aspect of this new adventure, he turned to UTINAM. 

For Philippe Lebru, the answer was obvious: what better than time machines to explore the turbulent waters of the Saline Royale’s history?

Inspired by the cult film of the same name, 10 UTINAM time machines were designed and created especially for this iconic site, masterpieces of mechanical art and horological precision offering an immersive journey through the Saline’s audiovisual archives.

After more than 2000 hours of work, which brought together a dozen clockmakers and experts in mechanical art, the UTINAM machines were unveiled for the first time on the 25th of March 2022 before the people of Arc-et-Senans. In their solid wood casings made by the Compagnons de Mouchard, these machines honour the magic of time and amaze visitors of all ages…

From inside the Hall Antoine, let the journey begin…