In a day filled with the past, the Prince and Princess of Monaco created new memories on their 17th March visit to Alsace with a series of ceremonies, meet and greets, and reminders of ancient ties.
The main mission of Prince Albert II and Princess of Charlene’s visit to the region of Alsace was the welcoming of a new Grimaldi Historic Site into the growing community of towns and villages across France and Italy that have centuries-old ties to the Principality.
The marriage of Louise d’Aumont, Duchess of Mazarin, to the future Prince Honoré IV of Monaco in 1777 gave Monaco the county of Ferrette, which had been granted by King Louis XIV to Cardinal Mazarin in 1659.
But the history of Ferrette goes back much further, and the region is this year celebrating the 700th anniversary of the 1324 marriage of Jeanne de Ferrette to Archduke Albert II of Habsburg. Prince Albert and Princess Charlene were able to partake in a small part of these commemorative events during their tours of three key communes.
Feldbach, Donnemarie and Thann
The trip began for the couple in Feldbach, where they were greeted by Mayor Sylvie Renger.
The Princely couple’s first task was the unveiling of a sign indicating the town as the latest member of the Grimaldi Historic Site of Monaco network, before the mayor took Prince Albert and Princess Charlene to the Saint-Jacques church, a place where “the first counts of Ferrette are buried”.
From Feldbach, the couple went on to Donnemarie, where they were met by Mayor Alexandre Berbett and other local dignitaries, who joined them in inaugurating a new street, the Passage des Comtes de Ferrette.
The day came to a conclusion in Thann, where the Prince and Princess attended, alongside the Archduke and Archduchess Rudolf of Habsburg-Lorraine, both descendants of Jeanne de Ferrette and Albert II of Habsburg, official ceremonies marking the 700th anniversary of this important marriage.
While in Thann, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene visited the collegiate church of Saint-Thiébault. It was here that they were able to see the church’s beautiful organ, an instrument that the Prince has aided in restoring.
After a traditional lunch, the Princely couple were treated to a choral concert by the Petits Chanteurs de Thann and spent time chatting to a crowd of well-wishers, end the trip on a high note.
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Photo credit: Manuel Vitali / Monaco Communications Department