Senones became the capital of the Principality of Salm in 1751. Saint Gondelbert had already founded an abbey here in 640; the convent buildings have preserved almost all of their 18th-century design.
History and Culture
Senones Abbey can be visited independently or with a guide all year round. Visitors can explore the large courtyards, cloister and gardens either on their own or with a guide.
The second castle of the Princes of Salm was built in 1773 and 1778. Its façades and roofs, as well as the staircase with its wrought-iron balustrade, have been classified as historic monuments since 19 May 1994.
A tour through the historic centre of Senones reveals Italian influences among the monks, French or Germanic influences among the Princes of Salm-Salm, and eclectic and Art Nouveau influences among the manufacturers.
Inside the abbey is the Parc de l’Abbaye, a park featuring particularly beautiful trees.
Local Life and Culinary Delights
The Marché Paysan de Senones takes place from April to December on the first Sunday of each month at the Dépôt in Senones. Around 20 producers are represented there. Visitors can sample matured cheeses, local meat and sausage products, seasonal vegetables, craft-brewed beers, jams, honey and homemade pastries.
Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Senones is choosing a clearly defined destination for their travel planning.
Museums
The Musée de la Batterie displays more than 150 drum kits from 1900 to the present day across 1,000 m², including many rare and famous models. The museum also offers an introduction to the instrument and a treasure hunt.
The Musée du Vélosolex traces the history of the VéloSolex and displays various versions of this bicycle.
Trails and Landscapes
The Les Roches Margos circular trail is an easy, signposted route that is freely accessible year-round. It starts in Senones, is 5.6 km long and has an elevation gain of 140 metres.
The 16 km-long, level Voie verte Le Chemin des Abbayes can be used on foot, by bicycle or on inline skates. In Senones, it passes the renovated sections of the cloister and the library.
The B7 L’Ormont cycling circuit starts at the Senones tourist office and returns to Senones via the Rabodeau valley and the wooded, hilly roads of the surrounding area.
The Le Coquin section offers a viewpoint at Coquin on a sandstone cliff of Tertiary sedimentary rock that was used strategically by the Germans during the First World War. The Boucle du Coquin starts in Senones at Roche Mère-Henry and leads to Loge des Gardes; here too, Coquin is described as a viewpoint and as a sandstone cliff used accordingly.
Further local pages: Étival-Clairefontaine, Bains-Les-Bains, Chantraine, Vagney, Ban-Sur-Meurthe-Clefcy, Dombasle-Devant-Darney, Lubine, Rehaupal.
