Province de la Sarre facts for kids
The Province de la Sarre was a special area in Europe that was controlled by France for a short time. It existed when Louis XIV, also known as the "Sun King," was the King of France. This area is mostly where the Saarland region in Germany is today.
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The Province of Saar: A French Area
What Was the Province of Saar?
The Province de la Sarre was like a new French "province" or region. It was created after a peace treaty called the Peace of Nimegue in 1679. This new French area included the land that is now the Saarland and some places nearby.
When it was first set up, the Province de la Sarre had 26 cities and 1600 villages. Its main city, or capital, was Saarlouis.
How the Province Ended
The Province de la Sarre did not last very long. It existed from 1679 until 1697. It ended because of another peace treaty called the Peace of Ryswick. This treaty helped to end a big conflict known as the Nine Years' War.
After the war, France had to give back most of the land that made up the Province de la Sarre. This land went back to the Holy Roman Empire. Also, the Duchy of Lorraine was brought back to how it was before 1670.
Saarlouis: A French City
Even though France gave back most of the land, they were allowed to keep two important cities. These were Saarlouis and Landau. This was because other countries, like England, helped France keep them to protect its borders.
Because of this, Saarlouis stayed a French city, even though it was surrounded by other countries' land. This kind of city is called an exclave. Saarlouis remained a French exclave until the time of the French Revolution.
