Tourist Time

I’ve been living in Nancy France since September and my deportation fiasco. But it was only last week that I got around to actually seeing the sights. Damien had said there wasn’t much to see in Nancy and the only thing I’d seen previously was Place Stanislas and Parc de la Pépinière. Damien was partly right. There wasn’t a lot to see compared to other places I’ve been. But there was a lot for a small city like Nancy. 
I went walking in the city on a cold very windy day and it was a bit rainy so I ended up only staying in the Old town of Nancy. What did I see?


Place Stanislas 
Stanislas Leszczynski an exiled king of Poland who had become Duke of Lorraine in 1737, planned to create a square intended to honour and glorify his son-in-law Louis XV of France. The foundation stone of the first building in the square was officially laid in March 1752 and the royal square solemnly inaugurated in November 1755. 
At the beginning a bronze statue of Louis XV decorated the centre of the square. The statue along with surrounding allegorical figures disappeared during the French Revolution and it was only in 1851 that a new statue, this time of Stanislas, was erected in its place. 

Place d’Alliance
This square originally called Saint Stanislas Square (part of the architectural unity commissioned by Stanislas). A baroque fountain by the sculptor Cyfflé, which to begin with, was meant to stand in the centre of the semicircle on Carrière Square was finally installed here. It is a symbol of the alliance in 1756 between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and France. 

Place de la Carriere
The need to modernise the ramparts mid 16th century led to an extension of the town toward the east and thus the creation of a new square, the " Place Neuve de la Carriere ".  Carriere was the old French word for a tilt-yard where jousting and tournaments took place in the Middle Ages. 

Triumphal Arch
The triumphal arch was built to honour Louis XV at the same time as Stanislas Square. This impressive gate was built in the middle of the ramparts separating the Old Town from the New Town. It is a reminder of the Triumphal Arches set up by the Roman emperors to glorify themselves ( particular the one for Septimius Severus in Rome). A gilded medallion of Louis XV in profile dominates the entire structure

The Craffe Gate
This impressive gateway into Nancy was built at the end of the 14th century as part of the walls encircling the town. The large twin towers flanking the gate were added on at the end of the 15th century and were used as prisons. The small lantern above the main gate dates back to the 17th century and contained a bell which rang out the hours of the day, the beginning of the curfew and informed the population of public executions. The Lorraine Cross on the facade is a reminder that the emblem was adopted after the victory of the Battle of Nancy

The Duke's Palace
The building of the Dukes' Palace began in 1502. All that remains nowadays of the residence of the Dukes of Lorraine is the wing on Grande-Rue (high street) and the Porterie (the gateway). It includes a niche with an equestrian statue of Duke Antoine -the original group was destroyed during the French Revolution. 
The palace was destroyed in part and redesigned by Boffrand during the reign of Leopold. Then turned into stables by Stanislas. After a fire in 18TH century, it was restored once again, although its appearance was slightly modified it regained its original mullioned windows, high sloping roofs, and gargoyles. It became the Lorraine Museum in 1937

The Church of the Cordeliers
This is a votive church which was built after the victory over Charles the Hardy at the Battle of Nancy. The unostentatious Cordeliers church and its adjoining Fransiscan monastery were founded respectively in 1487 and 1482 by René II. It is still consecrated as a place of worship. Since 1939, it has housed sculptures, religious paintings and funeral monuments including the Renaissance tomb of René II and the recumbant figure of his wife Philippa de Gueldres. The Dukes of Lorraine are buried in the adjoining circular-shaped chapel.

Saint-Epvre basilica and Square 
The Saint Epvre Church towers above one of the largest and busiest squares in the old town. Up till the end of the 19th century the square with its fountain topped by a statue of Duke Rene II was the site of the town's market. The present-day Basilica was built in the second half of the 19th century in the gothic revival style. 

The Cathedrale
The church was built at the beginning of the 18th century. It was originally the seat of the Primate of Lorraine and only became the cathedral in 1777 after the death of Stanislas. 

Saint-Sebastian's Church
This 18th century baroque church with its curvate facade was influenced by the Saint Agnesa Church in Rome. Imposing statues of two dukes of Lorraine, Leopold and Stanislas keep watch over the Church and the neighbouring Market place.

And all this info came from the Nancy Tourist Office site.


I’m really glad I got the chance to see the city. It was pretty and I ended up spotting a few really cute boutiques that I went shopping for Christmas gifts in. I wish I had taken pictures of these boutiques because they were seriously the cutest and coolest stores I’ve ever been in. but I think the highlight of the day was walking into the square and seeing the Christmas tree. And the whole city had lights…

But the tree really made me think of Christmas and if you know me then you know I’m absolutely crazy about Christmas, as my next post will most likely show. You see France has Christmas Markets… yup take a moment to absorb that spic fact. You’ll get to hear all about my Christmas Market encouters next time!


Cheers,