Castle of the Counts of Salm

At the beginning of the 13th century, Count Henri III built this castle on a rock rising to 809 meters above sea level, on lands belonging to the Abbey of Senones, which he was tasked with protecting. Classified as a historic monument in 1898, the ruins are currently undergoing consolidation work led by the Association Les Veilleurs de Salm. The Gothic building, rectangular in plan, was organized around living quarters protected by a thick wall and topped by a tower erected at the highest point of the rock.

Around 1285, Count Henri IV hosted the troubadour Jacques Bretel here, who was on his way to Chiny. The famous poem "The Tournament of Chauvency," composed of 4,590 verses, recounts the festivities that brought together the elite of European knighthood in Upper Lorraine. In the preface to his work, the poet expresses his admiration for the hospitality of the Count of Salm. Near the ruins, a poetry trail marked by 18 milestones pays tribute to Jacques Bretel and poetry through a pleasant discovery route in the land of Salm. The trailhead is located opposite the Salm-La Broque forest house.