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Guide to Nancy, France | |
| This ancient city was the capital of the Duchy of Lorraine, and is still chief city of a département, with historic buildings, fine museums, several universities, and high-tech industry. | ||
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Nancy stands on the Meurthe River not far from where it flows into the Moselle, 350 km (217 miles) east of Paris and 56 km (35 miles) south of Metz (map). Founded by the Duke of Lorraine around 1050, Nancy grew to be the capital city of the Duchy of Lorraine. Today it is among the largest cities in northeastern France, with several universities, excellent art and history museums, a botanical garden, public parks, and many public and private buildings in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. What to See & DoThe first place to see is the splendid Place Stanislas, the heart of the city. Nearby, Nancy's Vieille Ville - Léopold, still holds a city gate from the 1300s, the huge Ducal Palace (now the Musée Lorraine), and other ancient buildings (map). The "newer" city, Centre-Ville Charles III, constructed from the 1500s to 1700s the Cathedral, Opéra National de Lorraine, and the Gare de Nancy SNCF. Around 1900, artists and artisans of Nancy became famous for their Art Nouveau work in architecture, décor, painting, glassware and stained glass, furniture, fabrics, typography, and indeed all branches of the arts. Many works of this artistic group called L'École de Nancy are preserved in the superb Musée de l'École de Nancy, a sumptuous Belle Époque mansion. More...
Joan of ArcNancy is also a good base for an excursion to the village of Domrémy-la-Pucelle, birthplace of Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc). More... TransportationFast, frequent TGV and Ouigo trains can speed you from Paris's Gare de l'Est to the city-center Gare de Nancy SNCF (map) in as little as 90 minutes. Slower Intercités trains can do it in under three hours. Other TGV trains deliver you to the Gare de Lorraine TGV, 37 km (23 miles) north of the Gare de Nancy in Louvigny, on the Paris-to-Strasbourg TGV line (map). More... Where to StayNancy has nearly 20 hotels,and numerous short-term rental rooms and apartments/flats in all price ranges, in the historic center, and many more just a short distance away. You'll have no time finding the lodgings you want. More...
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Place Saint-Épvre, with the statue of Duke René II & Basilique Saint-Èpvre, Nancy, Lorraine, France.
Scene in the Musée des Beaux-Arts, |
