European Heritage Days: Protestantism in Salies, from the Reformation to the Present Day

From the 16th century onwards, Protestantism became firmly established in Salies de Béarn, “the first town in Béarn to adopt the new religion.” Despite the persecutions that affected the region during the Wars of Religion, a significant Protestant community survived, often having to conceal its faith. The Edict of Nantes (1598) finally brought a relative freedom of worship, allowing the local Reformed Church to organise itself until the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, which led to the exile or forced concealment of many believers. In the 19th century, the return of religious freedom encouraged the revival of the Protestant Church in Salies. A Protestant temple was built, symbolising the return of religious tolerance. Today, although a minority, the Protestant community plays an active role in the town’s cultural and social life. Heir to a long tradition of resilience, it cont