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Origin and history

The ruins of the castle Salm, located on the commune of La Broque in the Bas-Rhin (Great East), are the remains of a Comtal fortress built between 1205 and 1225 by Henri III, Count of Salm in Haute-Lorraine. Built on a rocky bar at 809 m above sea level, this castle marked the centre of the seigneury of Salm en Vosges, a territory organized around this strategic point. Salm's family, together with the Counts of Bar, were among the most influential dynasties in Lorraine. The site, originally built on land dependent on Senones Abbey, became a place of economic and military power, with foundry and metallurgy activities attested from the thirteenth century.

The castle reached its peak in the 13th and 14th centuries, with major developments around 1400, including a shield tower, a barbacan and a new gate to strengthen its defences. Occupied until the 15th century, it was probably destroyed in 1475 during the conflicts between Charles the Teméraire, Duke of Burgundy, the Duke of Lorraine and his vassals. As early as 1564, the sources described it as "a ruin", a state confirmed until the 17th century. Despite his disaffection, the site drew the attention of the princes of Salm-Salm, who visited him in 1779, as evidenced by an inscription on a bas-relief.

Ranked a historic monument in 1898 under German administration (Alsace-Lorraine), the castle suffered damage during the 1914 fighting, before being attached to France in 1919. The current remains, partially restored since 2004 by the association of the Veilleurs de Salm, reveal a sophisticated comtal architecture: abrased shield tower, vaulted tank, and traces of interior buildings with stained glass windows. Although his plan remains difficult to interpret, Gothic elements and architectural furniture suggest the existence of a chapel, typical of castles of this size.

The castle Salm illustrates the political and military dynamics of medieval Lorraine, between the influence of Lorraine and Alsatian. Its history also reflects territorial changes, from the Duchy of Lorraine to the German Empire and then to France. Today, the site offers a rare testimony of the 13th century total castles, marked by innovative defensive techniques and a central role in the local economy (salins, forges).

Historical sources, including the acts of the Counts of Salm and stories such as the Chauvency Tournament (1285), highlight its cultural importance. The finder Jacques Bretel stayed there, describing the court of Henry IV. Recent excavations have exhumed forgotten walls and objects (potteries, weapons), confirming an intense occupation in the 14th–15th centuries. Despite the documentary shortcomings, the castle Salm remains a major milestone in the castral heritage between Vosges and Alsace.

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