Senones, former principality: discover a little-known past
Nestled in the heart of the Vosges mountains, Senones could pass for a peaceful little town like so many others. But behind its quiet lanes and verdant mountains lies a history as surprising as it is little-known: for several centuries, Senones was the capital of an independent principality, that of Salm. Yes, independent. With a prince, a court, its own laws... and even a currency.
A principality in the heart of the Vosges
The story begins in the Middle Ages. Around the 11th century, the County of Salm was founded by a branch of the noble House of Luxembourg. Over the centuries, the territory was fragmented, but part of it remained around Senones. In 1751, this small state officially became a principality of the Holy Roman Empire.
Imagine: while France next door lived to the rhythm of the Bourbon kings, Senones lived by its own rules, ruled by a prince who resided in the former abbey, now transformed into a princely palace.
A life apart, between France and the Empire
The Principality of Salm enjoys semi-independent status: it is not part of the Kingdom of France, but neither is it totally isolated. It maintains diplomatic relations, prints its own currency (the “gros de Salm”), and its inhabitants are not subjects of the king.
This unique position attracted more than just the curious. Philosophers such as Voltaire corresponded with the abbey's scholarly monks, including Dom Calmet, famous for his writings on vampires and religious texts.
The end of an era (and a dream)
But Senones' independence did not withstand the revolutionary turmoil. In 1793, the territory was annexed by France. The last Prince of Salm had to flee, and the principality was dissolved. The symbols of princely power were gradually forgotten... or reinvented.
Today, Senones still bears the traces of this singular history:
- The abbey, in the center of the village, bears witness to the power of yesteryear.
- The princely palace, now an administrative building, still bears the marks of the pomp of yesteryear.
- And above all, in the air, an atmosphere of a small forgotten capital, on the border between reality and fiction.
A different kind of visit
Visiting Senones is more than just admiring a beautiful Vosges village. It's about following in the footsteps of a sovereign territory, a tiny state that has fallen into oblivion, but which has left an invisible imprint on the memory of the place.
So, the next time you pass through Senones, ask yourself this question:
“What if I'm unknowingly visiting a vanished kingdom?”
