Explore Nancy, France

Nancy’s three UNESCO squares and the Old Town fit into one walk. Villa Majorelle lies west of the station, so it takes more time to include than the Art Nouveau buildings you can see on your way into the center.

These are the main choices for a day trip from Strasbourg.

• Best way to get there. Take a direct train to Nancy Ville and walk into the center.
• First sights. See Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière, and Place d’Alliance.
• Old Town walk. Follow Grand’Rue past the Ducal Palace and the Church of the Cordeliers to the Craffe Gate.
• Art Nouveau option. See Brasserie L’Excelsior near the station, or reserve Villa Majorelle if you want to go inside an Art Nouveau house.
• Time to allow. Give the center at least half a day. Allow a full day if you want lunch and a museum or villa visit.

If you book Villa Majorelle, let the entry time determine when you head west of the station. If you only have a few hours, stay with the squares and Grand’Rue.

Nancy’s history spans nearly a thousand years, from its medieval origins as the capital of the Duchy of Lorraine to its transformation under Enlightenment rulers and its later role as a hub of French Art Nouveau. Each era left behind landmarks that continue to shape the city’s identity today.

Nancy began as a small settlement in the 11th century, fortified under Gérard of Alsace, Duke of Lorraine. After being burned in 1218 during the War of Succession of Champagne, the town was rebuilt in stone, with its medieval core still visible around the Grand’Rue. Surviving landmarks from this era include the Craffe Gate, a defensive tower dating to the 14th century.

In the mid-18th century, the exiled Polish king Stanislaus Leszczyński, who became Duke of Lorraine, transformed Nancy with grand urban projects. His legacy includes the creation of Place Stanislas (1752–1756), a masterpiece of classical urban planning now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When Lorraine was annexed by France in 1766, Nancy retained its role as a regional capital.

The 19th century brought industrialization and population growth. Following the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, Nancy gained significance as the largest French city near the new German border. This period also set the stage for Nancy’s emergence as a center of the Art Nouveau movement. From 1890 to 1914, artists and designers of the École de Nancy—including Émile Gallé, Louis Majorelle, and Jacques Grüber—transformed the cityscape with buildings, glasswork, and furniture in organic, nature-inspired styles.

Nancy endured hardship during both World Wars, including bombings in 1914 and 1944. Post-war, the city preserved much of its historic core while expanding as a university and cultural center. Today, Nancy is celebrated for its blend of medieval fortifications, 18th-century squares, and Art Nouveau heritage, making it a showcase of French architectural history across the centuries.

Nancy’s buildings show three different ways the city grew. The former ducal town developed around Grand’Rue and its gates. In the eighteenth century, Stanislaus used a sequence of formal squares to connect the Old Town and New Town. Around 1900, Art Nouveau brought a different approach to the city’s houses, shops, and public interiors.

Walk north along Grand’Rue to see how the old street leads to the Craffe Gate. Its round towers, narrow openings, and heavy masonry make its defensive purpose easy to see. Compare it with Arc Héré later in the walk, where the arch marks a ceremonial approach to a square.

At the Ducal Palace, look for the carved entrance on Grand’Rue. At Hôtel d’Haussonville, the courtyard galleries show how Renaissance details were incorporated into a private residence. The palace and townhouses sit close to the street, so their entrances and courtyards tell you more than a distant view does.

At Place Stanislas, look across the paving to see how Emmanuel Héré coordinated the façades. Jean Lamour’s gilded ironwork and Barthélémy Guibal’s fountains mark the corners. Pass through Arc Héré to see the long view down Place de la Carrière, then visit the smaller Place d’Alliance. UNESCO recognizes all three squares as one ensemble.

The tall spire and pointed openings of the Basilique Saint-Épvre bring Gothic forms into the nineteenth century. Compare the church with the Craffe Gate on the same walk. Both have pointed arches, but the church uses height and large windows for a very different effect.

Brasserie L’Excelsior and the commercial buildings around Rue Saint-Jean are useful first stops for Art Nouveau. At the former Génin-Louis grain shop, look at how the metal structure and decorative details work together. These buildings put the style into everyday streets where people went to shop, eat, and work.

Villa Majorelle shows how curved ironwork, wood, and glass could carry the same design through a private house. For more residential architecture, Saurupt is a separate detour. On a day trip, choose between a villa interior and a longer walk through the residential streets.

Nancy’s architectural landmarks span nearly seven centuries, reflecting the city’s transformation from a medieval ducal seat to a center of Enlightenment urban design and later the cradle of French Art Nouveau. Visitors can explore Gothic gates and Renaissance palaces, admire the harmonious 18th-century squares recognized by UNESCO, and step inside Art Nouveau residences where architecture and decorative arts merge. Together, these sites showcase the layers of history that make Nancy one of France’s most architecturally distinctive cities.

Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Annonciation et Saint-Sigisbert

• Architects: Initial plans by Giovanni (Giovan) Betto; modified by Jules Hardouin‑Mansart and completed economically by Germain Boffrand
• Style: Baroque with classical planning
• Year Built: Begun early 18th century; completed in the 19th century
• Address: 56 Bis Pl. Mgr Ruch, 54000 Nancy

This national monument serves as the seat of the Bishop of Nancy and Toul. Designed in a Latin cross plan with Corinthian interior columns, it features a central dome painted by Claude Jacquard and ornate railings by Jean Lamour. Its historic organ was begun by Nicolas Dupont (1756), improved by Aristide Cavaillé-Coll (1861), and remains a prominent feature.

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur

• Architect(s): Anthony Rougieux (architecture); design also overseen by Canon Henri Blaise under Bishop Charles‑François Turinaz’s initiative.
• Style: Romanesque-Byzantine, inspired by Montmartre’s Sacré‑Coeur in Paris.
• Year Built: Construction began in 1902 and completed in 1905; consecrated and elevated to minor basilica in September 1905
• Address: 39 Rue de Laxou, 54000 Nancy

A prominent early 20th-century church combining rounded arches, a central dome, and soft masonry that evokes Byzantine structures. Its construction was directed by Canon Blaise after being commissioned in 1889 by Bishop Turinaz.

• Architect: Nicolas La Hière
• Style: Italianate Renaissance – characteristic late 16th-century facade reflecting Italian influence
• Year Built: Late 16th century
• Address: 14 Rue du Cheval Blanc, 54000 Nancy

Commissioned by Claude de Beauvau, this hôtel particulier occupies the former site of a municipal bathhouse. Its decor includes sculpted Ionic columns and intricate staircases reminiscent of Château de Fléville. Now housing a Maison des Jeunes et de la Culture, it is one of Nancy’s most prominent Renaissance buildings.

• Architect: Unknown
• Style: Lorraine Renaissance
• Year Built: Circa 1528
• Address: 9 Rue Mgr Trouillet, 54000 Nancy

A noble residence featuring an inner courtyard with a fountain and openwork balustrades. Now a listed Historic Monument, it serves as a boutique hotel that retains its Renaissance character while offering modern hospitality.

aka Hôtel de Curel

• Architect: Germain Boffrand
• Style: Classical (18th‑century classicism) with Renaissance touches
• Year Built: 1717
• Address: Rue des Loups, 54000 Nancy

Built for the Duke’s Wolf Hunt Master, the U‑shaped mansion features a monumental entrance flanked by stone wolves—echoes of its name. Its sober symmetry and prestige reflect noble architecture of the time.

aka Ferraris Mansion

• Architect: Attributed to Germain Boffrand
• Style: Classical 18th-century mansion with Italianate and rococo influences
• Year Built: Circa 1717
• Address: 29 Rue Haut‑Bourgeois, Nancy

Built by Louis de Ferrari, with Italian heritage influence. Inside: a grand courtyard with Neptune fountain, staircase with Jean Lamour’s ironwork, and trompe-l’œil ceiling—the lavish interior overshadows its austere street façade.

• Architect / Style: Built between 1718–1720 by sculptor Jacob‑Sigisbert Adam in a Classical style with elaborate sculptural façade details in mythological themes.
• Year Built: 1718–1720
• Address: 57 Rue des Dominicains, 54000 Nancy

This ornate 18th-century residence stands out for its sculptural façade featuring mythological figures and allegories of the four continents. Built by a renowned regional sculptor, it remains one of Nancy’s most elaborate Classical homes and is a registered historic monument.

• Architect(s): Henri Sauvage (design), with contributions from Louis Majorelle (interior, ironwork), Jacques Grüber (stained glass), and Alexandre Bigot (ceramic motifs)
• Style: Art Nouveau (École de Nancy), considered the first fully Art Nouveau house in Nancy
• Year Built: Constructed in 1901–1902
• Address: 1 Rue Louis Majorelle, 54000 Nancy

Built for furniture designer Louis Majorelle, this “total work of art” integrates architecture, décor, furnishings, and decorative arts. It exemplifies harmony between building and interior design, with organic motifs, intricate ironwork, and stained glass—now managed by the Musée de l’École de Nancy.

• Architect: Charles‑Louis de Montluisant (designed the building between 1770–1775, using boiseries from the former University of Pont‑à‑Mousson)
• Style: Neoclassical – a historic university façade adapted for use as a library in the Enlightenment style
• Year Built: Constructed circa 1769–1775; library founded in 1750 by Stanislaus I
• Address: 43 Rue Stanislas, 54000 Nancy

Established by Stanisław Leszczyński, this is one of France’s oldest public libraries. It occupies a former university building enriched with elegant woodwork from the Jesuit University of Pont‑à‑Mousson. The library preserves rare manuscripts, incunables, and extensive regional collections in two grand reading rooms. Renovations in the 1930s modernized lighting, heating, and shelving while maintaining historical interiors.

Meurthe-et-Moselle

• Architect(s): Louis Marchal and Émile Toussaint
• Style: Art Nouveau, École de Nancy, featuring stained glass by Antonin Daum and Jacques Grüber and ironwork by Louis Majorelle
• Year Built: Constructed between 1906–1908; inaugurated June 1909
• Address: 53 Rue Stanislas, 54000 Nancy

A striking Art Nouveau office building, showcasing collaboration among major École de Nancy figures: glass by Daum and Grüber, wrought iron by Majorelle. It’s now a protected historic monument.

• Architect(s): Albert Jasson (original, 1889); Vincent Brossy (renovation, 1999)
• Style: Late 19th-century municipal cultural architecture associated with the École de Nancy
• Year Built: Completed in 1889
• Address: 3 Rue Victor Poirel, 54000 Nancy

A concert hall seating approximately 880–900 people, combined with exhibition galleries. Conceived as a cultural hub of avant-garde creation, it played a foundational role in the École de Nancy movement. Extensively renovated in 1999 to enhance functionality while preserving its historic identity.

• Architect / Designer: Emmanuel Héré (harmonization and classical redesign)
• Style: Classical 18th-century urban square with wrought-iron Rococo railings by Jean Lamour
• Year Developed: Developed in 18th century, unified c.1750s alongside Place Stanislas
• Address: Pl. de la Carrière, 54000 Nancy

Once used for medieval jousts (hence “Carrière”), this elongated open square was transformed into a formal ensemble linking Old Town and New Town under Stanislaus I's design. Flanked by uniform noble façades, it features elegant Rococo ironwork and forms part of the UNESCO-listed ensemble with Stanislas and Alliance.

• Architect / Designer: Emmanuel Héré
• Style: Classical 18th-century urban square with Baroque-inspired central fountain by Paul‑Louis Cyfflé
• Year Built: Mid-18th century within the broader ensemble of Stanislas project
• Address: Ville-Neuve, adjacent to Place Stanislas, Nancy

An intimate square forming part of the triple ensemble of Place Stanislas. It features serene tree-lined layout and a Baroque fountain depicting the rivers of Europe. The place carries political symbolism through its inscriptions commemorating the alliance between France and Austria. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage site.

• Architect / Style: The square occupies the former site of the ducal arsenal built in 1550 under Charles III of Lorraine; it later transformed into a military supply facility. No specific architect is noted.
• Year Built / Historical Use: Originally an arsenal from 1550, operating in this capacity until the French Revolution; the name “Place de l’Arsenal” was established around 1837.
• Address: 24 Pl. de l'Arsenal, 54000 Nancy

This open space marks the former location of the prominent ducal arsenal. It is listed in the Mérimée heritage database (Monuments Historiques) and features vestiges of the original 16th-century structures.

Porte de la Citadelle

• Architect: Designed by Drouin le Jeune (1598); restored by sculptor Viard in 1863 with addition of statue
• Style: Renaissance with Mannerist sculptures; mid‑19th-century restorations
• Year Built: Originally 1598; restored in 1863
• Address: 2T Rue de la Citadelle, 54000 Nancy

A decorative gate of the old Citadel, featuring allegoric Renaissance sculptures. Viard’s 19th-century restoration added a ducal statue and reinforced sculptural richness.

aka Porte Héré

• Architect: Emmanuel Héré de Corny
• Style: Triumphal arch inspired by Roman models, with Baroque/classical ornamentation
• Year Built: 1752–1755
• Address: 23 Rue Héré, 54000 Nancy

This ornate gateway replaced an older royal gate to mark the new alignment between Nancy’s old and new quarters. Adorned with allegorical figures and gilded statues, it incorporates bas-reliefs from the previous gate and welcomes visitors into the grand Place Stanislas. It is designated a monument historique and part of the UNESCO site.

• Architect: Richard Mique
• Style: Doric classical
• Year Built: 1761
• Address: Rue Sainte-Catherine, 54000 Nancy

Erected as part of Stanislaus Leszczyński’s urban planning, this gate honors his wife Catherine Opalińska. Once positioned at the city wall, it was later moved when the nearby barracks were built. It’s a finely dressed Doric portal and is a listed Monument Historique.

• Architect: Likely by Florent Drouin the Younger (design) with sculptural additions by Florent Drouin and Jean Richier
• Style: Renaissance with Tuscan columns, allegorical sculptures, and a classical pediment
• Year Built: 1602
• Address: Prte Saint-Georges, 54000 Nancy

Built as one of the original gates of the Ville‑Neuve, its ornate façade includes statues of War and Peace and a sculpture of Saint George. Threatened during late‑19th-century tramway construction, it was preserved thanks to local preservation efforts.

• Architect / Style: Early 17th-century city gate, Renaissance influenced; underwent later restorations
• Year Built: Early 1600s (c. 1603–1608); restored in 2018–2019
• Address: 5 Pl. des Vosges, 54000 Nancy

The southern gate of Nancy’s Ville-Neuve, named for the road to Saint-Nicolas-de-Port. It served as a ceremonial entry for the Dukes of Lorraine. After structural alterations due to tram traffic and later neglect, a major restoration between 2018–2019 reintroduced lighting, landscaping, and pedestrian access.

• Architect(s): Lucien Weissenburger and Alexandre Mienville
• Style: École de Nancy (Art Nouveau interior); exterior shows a sober, vertical style contrasting the flamboyant interior
• Year Built: Inaugurated between 1910 and 1911
• Address: 50 Rue Henri-Poincaré, 54000 Nancy

A landmark Art Nouveau brasserie built as a luxury showcase for the Vézelise brewery’s products. The interior is a masterpiece of the École de Nancy, featuring Majorelle furniture, Daum lighting, and Grüber stained glass. A later Art Deco extension and staircase by Jean Prouvé blend with the original design. The site is protected as a historic monument since 1976.

• Architect: Henri Gutton (working with his nephew Henry Gutton)
• Style: Art Nouveau with a visible metal structure—unique in Nancy’s architectural landscape
• Year Built: 1900–1901
• Address: 2 Rue Bénit, 54000 Nancy

Built for seed merchant Jules Génin, this building stands out for its exposed metal framework and ornate Art Nouveau decorative elements, including floral motifs and stained glass by Jacques Grüber.

(Former Renauld Bank)

• Architect(s): Émile André and Paul Charbonnier
• Style: Art Nouveau, embellished with decorative ironwork by Louis Majorelle
• Year Built: Between 1908 and 1910
• Address: 56-58 Rue Saint-Jean, 54000 Nancy

An elaborately decorated Art Nouveau bank building now housing BNP Paribas. Its façade and interior are noted for ornate ironwork and sculptural detail that typify the École de Nancy’s decorative aesthetic.

• Architect(s): Georges Biet for the building, Eugène Vallin (woodwork), Jacques Grüber (stained glass), and Jean Prouvé (metal structure)
• Style: Art Nouveau (École de Nancy)
• Year Built: 1901–1902
• Address: 18-24 Rue de la Commanderie, 54000 Nancy

Built by architect Georges Biet as his own residence, it features exquisite Art Nouveau craftsmanship—woodwork by Vallin, stained glass by Grüber, and a modern metal terrace roof by Prouvé. The original structure was rebuilt after WWI and remains a protected monument.

Pharmacie Jacques

• Architect: Lucien Bentz; sculptures by Albert (Auguste) Vautrin; stained glass by Jacques Grüber; furniture by Justin Feretz
• Style: Art Nouveau, part of the École de Nancy movement
• Year Built: 1903 (construction between 1902 and 1904)
• Address: 33 Rue de la Commanderie, 54000 Nancy

An elegant Art Nouveau pharmacy combining architecture with decorative art—Vautrin’s medicinal motifs, Grüber’s stained glass, and preserved interior furnishings. Its façades and roof are listed historic monuments.

• Architect: Émile André
• Style: Art Nouveau, constructed with reinforced concrete
• Year Built: Between 1902 and 1904; completed in 1903–1904
• Address: 69 Av. Foch, 54000 Nancy

A pioneering example of early reinforced concrete construction, with elegant Art Nouveau design—ornamental balconies, ironwork details, and classified as a monument historique.

Immeuble Aimé

• Architect: Georges Biet, with modifications by Eugène Vallin
• Style: Art Nouveau
• Year Built: 1903 (plans dated 1902, construction completed 1903)
• Address: 42 Rue Saint-Dizier, 54000 Nancy

Designed for Dr. Henri Aimé, this Art Nouveau building features a metal structure subtly visible through the façade. Originally housing Société Générale at ground level, its façade and entrance hall are classified as Monument Historique.

Port de Plaisance

Architect / Style: Not applicable—it’s a contemporary marina rather than a historic architectural work.

Year / Opening: Awarded a Blue Flag for sustainable development (year unspecified)

Address: Bd 21E Régiment Aviation, 54000 Nancy

A 40-berth urban marina set in the heart of Nancy—just a 10-minute walk from Place Stanislas—known for its lush seasonal plantings and environmentally conscious management.

Nancy is easily walkable. The full walk starts and ends at Nancy Ville station. It passes commercial buildings near the station, follows Grand’Rue through the Old Town, crosses the UNESCO squares, and continues to Art Nouveau buildings west of the station. Follow the stop order below and use the maps to see how the route fits together.

If you have limited time, we suggest visiting the recommended sites in the following order:

• Salle et Galerie Poirel
• Brasserie L’Excelsior
• Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie
• Bibliotheque Stanislas
• Hotel de Lillebonne
• Basilique St. Epvre
• Hotel d’Haussonville
• Place de l’Arsenal
• Hotel des Loups
• Porte Désilles
• Hotel Farraris
• Porte del la Craffe
• Porte de la Citadelle
• Eglise des Cordeliers
• Palais des Ducs de Lorraine – Musee Lorrain
• Place de la Carriere
• Arc Héré (Porte Héré)
• Place Stanislas
• Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall)
• Place de Alliance
• Porte St. Catherine
• Port de plaisance
• Porte St. Georges
• Nancy Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-l'Annonciation de Nancy)
• Maison des Adam
• Immeuble Henri Aime
• Porte Saint-Nicolas
• Ancienne graineterie Genin
• Anceinne banque Renauld
• Immeuble Biet
• Jacques Pharmacy (33 Rue de la Commanderie, 54000 Nancy)
• Immeuble Lombard
• Villa Majorelle
• Basilica of the Sacred Heart

Below is a map of this walking tour that starts and ends at the Nancy Central Station.

For a shorter walk, concentrate on the Old Town and the UNESCO squares. Follow the full route if you have the day and plan to see most buildings from the street. If you’ve reserved Villa Majorelle, leave time to reach it and return to Nancy Ville for your train.

Take a direct train if you’re visiting central Nancy. You can start walking from Nancy Ville station and reach the main squares and the Old Town without a car.

Direct trains connect Strasbourg and Nancy Ville. Check the SNCF timetable for your date and look at the return trains before booking an afternoon visit. From Nancy Ville, pass Brasserie L’Excelsior and continue toward Place Stanislas, or start with the Art Nouveau buildings west of the station if you have an early reservation.

FlixBus is an alternative if its departure and return work for your day. Check the arrival point on your ticket. The Sainte-Catherine coach stop is on the opposite side of the center from Nancy Ville station, so it makes sense to begin around Place d’Alliance and Place Stanislas.

Driving is useful if Nancy is one stop on a wider Lorraine trip. Choose a car park near the part of the city you want to visit first and walk between the central sights. For a day focused on the squares and Old Town, the direct train is simpler.

Start with the UNESCO squares and the Old Town, then choose one main afternoon visit. If you have a timed entry at Villa Majorelle, work the rest of the day around it.

Begin at Place Stanislas while there’s room to step back and look at the façades. Make the short detour to Place d’Alliance, then return through Place Stanislas and pass under Arc Héré into Place de la Carrière. This brings you to the edge of the Old Town.

Walk past Saint-Épvre and the Ducal Palace to the Church of the Cordeliers and Craffe Gate. Stop for lunch around Place Saint-Épvre or back near Place Stanislas. Staying in this part of town leaves you close to the fine arts museum if that’s your afternoon choice.

Stay near Place Stanislas for the Musée des Beaux-Arts, or cross west of the station for Villa Majorelle. The villa is the better choice if you want to see Art Nouveau in a domestic setting. Reserve ahead and check which rooms are open during the current restoration.

On your way back, leave time to see Brasserie L’Excelsior if you missed it in the morning. If you’re coming from Villa Majorelle, stay on the station side of town unless you have enough time to cross the center again before your train.

The squares and the Old Town fit easily into the same walk. The decisions that take more planning are a museum visit, a timed entry at Villa Majorelle, and how late you can stay before the return train.

Go early if you want room to look at the gilded gates and fountains or photograph the façades. Then pass under Arc Héré and continue toward the Old Town.

The central walk is mostly level, but older streets around Grand’Rue have uneven surfaces. Shoes with good grip are useful after rain, especially if you’re also walking out to Villa Majorelle.

Book ahead if you want to go inside, and check the villa’s visitor information for restoration updates. If you can’t get a suitable time, see the Art Nouveau façades around the station and Rue Saint-Jean instead.

Check the Nancy CityPass guide against the places you’ll actually enter and any transport you’ll use. For a day mostly spent outdoors, compare the price of one individual admission before buying the pass.

Use a dry spell for the open squares and save a museum for wetter weather. If you plan to visit the Musée Lorrain, check which parts of the site are accessible during renovation.

Eat around Saint-Épvre if you’re finishing the Old Town walk, or near Place Stanislas if you’re going to the Musée des Beaux-Arts next. Quiche lorraine is a regional choice if you want a lighter stop before an afternoon visit.

Late spring or early autumn suits a day spent looking at façades and walking between squares. In winter, make the Saint-Nicolas festivities part of the plan if you’re visiting for them and allow time for the event crowds.

Place Stanislas is worth seeing after dark if your return allows it. If you’re staying for the summer projections, check the city’s La Belle Saison programme and make sure you can still get back to Strasbourg.

Check your return train before adding a final detour to the marina or another west-side building. If time is short, choose a stop near the station and leave a buffer for the platform.

For a first visit, decide whether the Old Town and squares are enough or whether you want to set aside time for Art Nouveau interiors.

Yes. A direct train gives you time for the three UNESCO squares and the Old Town in one day. Add one museum or Villa Majorelle if its opening and your return train fit.

Allow half a day for the squares and the Old Town, or a full day if you want lunch and an interior visit. Two days make sense if you want both the historic center and a longer Art Nouveau walk with museum stops.

Nancy is the stronger choice for formal eighteenth-century squares and Art Nouveau interiors. Colmar is a shorter rail trip from Strasbourg and suits a day centered on canals, timber-framed streets, and Alsace merchant houses.

Yes. Nancy Ville, Place Stanislas, and Grand’Rue can be linked on foot. Villa Majorelle is west of the station, so allow extra time or make it a separate outing if you want to keep the central walk short.

Yes. For a glass or help choosing a bottle, stay in the center. Vins et Tartines on Rue des Ponts combines a wine shop and restaurant. Ask what’s available if you want to try wines from Lorraine.

Choose late spring or early autumn if you want to spend most of the day walking. If you’re going for a specific museum or Villa Majorelle, its opening days and entry times matter more than the season.

Start at Place Stanislas, then see Place d’Alliance and Place de la Carrière. From there, continue into the Old Town along Grand’Rue toward the Craffe Gate.

Stanislaus Leszczyński, Duke of Lorraine, commissioned the Hôtel de Ville as part of the square now called Place Stanislas. Emmanuel Héré designed the ensemble. The town hall occupies the south side of the square.

Yes. Start with Brasserie L’Excelsior near Nancy Ville and look for Art Nouveau commercial façades around Rue Saint-Jean. Villa Majorelle is worth adding if you want to see how the style was carried through the rooms of a private house.