Nancy, France

Nancy is a historic city in the northeastern part of France, in the region called Grand Est. It is the main city of the area known as Lorraine and sits near the Meurthe River. As of 2021, around 508,793 people live in the larger area around Nancy, making it the 16th-largest urban area in France. The city itself has about 104,387 people.

The history of Nancy goes back to the 11th century when a fortified town was built by Gerard, Duke of Lorraine. It became an important place for the rulers of the Duchy of Lorraine until France took control in 1766. The old part of the city, called the Vieille Ville, shows this rich history, while the newer part from the 1700s shows grand planning under Stanislaus I of Poland. One famous spot is Place Stanislas, a beautiful square built between 1752 and 1756, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

During the 1800s and early 1900s, Nancy grew as an industrial and cultural center, especially known for its Art Nouveau style. Artists like Émile Gallé helped make the city famous for its decorative arts. Today, Nancy remains a key place for culture, science, and education, home to the University of Lorraine and important museums and theaters. The city's motto, "Non inultus premor," means "I am not injured unavenged," referring to the thistle symbol of Lorraine.

History

The area around Nancy has been settled since around 800 BC, likely because of the iron ore and a river crossing. Its name comes from an old Gaulish word, and a small town was built there around 1050.

Nancy faced many changes over the centuries. It was burned in 1218 and later rebuilt. In 1477, a big battle happened there. Later, it became part of France and grew with new buildings and culture. During World War II, it was occupied by German forces but was later freed by the US Army.

Geography

Nancy is located on the left side of the Meurthe River, about 10 kilometers from where it meets the Moselle River. The Marne–Rhine Canal also runs through the city. Around Nancy are hills that are about 150 meters higher than the city center, which sits at 200 meters above sea level. The city itself covers a small area of 15 square kilometers, and it connects closely with nearby towns like Jarville-la-Malgrange, Laxou, Malzéville, Maxéville, Saint-Max, Tomblaine, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, and Villers-lès-Nancy.

The oldest part of Nancy is called Vieille Ville – Léopold. Here you can find old buildings such as the 14th century Porte de la Craffe, the Palace of the Dukes of Lorraine, and the St-Epvre basilica from the 1800s. Nearby is another area known as Charles III – Centre Ville, built between the 1500s and 1700s. This part of the city includes famous spots like Place Stanislas, the Nancy Cathedral, the Opéra national de Lorraine, and the main railway station.

Climate

Nancy has an oceanic climate, which means its weather is a mix of different temperatures throughout the year. Winters can be cold and dry, while summers are warm but not always sunny. There is often mist in the fall, and the winds are usually light. The city gets less rain than areas further west in France, and the amount of sunshine is similar to Paris. The coldest temperature ever recorded was −26.8 °C, though some older records mention even colder days.

Demographics

Government

The most recent local election for Nancy was the 2026 Nancy municipal election.

Main sights

The old city center of Nancy has buildings from the Middle Ages to the 1700s. You can see the cathedral of Nancy, the Triumphal Arch, and "Place de la Carrière", which are great examples of architecture from the 1700s. The Palace of the Dukes of Lorraine was where the rulers lived, and today it holds the Musée Lorrain.

There is a historic church called the Church of Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours, Nancy, where the last duke, Stanislas, is buried. Other important churches are the Church of Saint-François-des-Cordeliers and the Basilica of Saint-Epvre, which have connections to the House of Lorraine.

The Place Stanislas, named after the king of Poland and duke of Lorraine Stanislaus I, along with Place de la Carrière and Place d'Alliance, were added to the World Heritage Sites list by UNESCO in 1983.

An art group called the "École de Nancy", started by artist and glassmaker Émile Gallé, worked in the Art Nouveau style in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Their work helped make Nancy famous for art and architecture, earning it the nickname "Capitale de l'Est". Many Art Nouveau buildings, like banks and homes, are still in the city today. Art and glass pieces from this time are shown at the Musée de l'École de Nancy, located in a 1909 house donated by Eugène Corbin. The Musée des Beaux-Arts also has more Art Nouveau collections.

There is a big botanical garden called the Jardin botanique du Montet near Villers-lès-Nancy. Other gardens to visit include the Jardin Dominique Alexandre Godron, along with several public gardens such as Pépinière and Parc Sainte-Marie. The city also has an aquarium. Near the train station, you’ll find a lively shopping area.

Culture

The city of Nancy is famous for its beautiful old buildings, especially those at the Place Stanislas. These buildings are so special that they are recognized as World Heritage sites.

In the early 1900s, Nancy was an important place for a special art style called Art Nouveau, known as the École de Nancy. The city has a interesting museum called the Musée de l'École de Nancy where you can see artworks by famous artists like Émile Gallé and Louis Majorelle. Nancy also has several other museums, including one for fine arts, a history museum for the Duchy of Lorraine, and an aquarium and natural history museum.

Nancy is also home to a beautiful opera house, the Opéra national de Lorraine, and many libraries, with the main one being the Bibliothèque municipale de Nancy.

The city is well-known for its tasty treats, especially macarons and bergamotes, which are candies flavored with bergamot essential oil.

Universities and colleges

Nancy has many places where people can go to learn and study. One big school is the University of Lorraine, which includes several smaller schools such as Henri Poincaré University and Nancy 2 University. There is also the National Polytechnic Institute of Lorraine with many special schools focused on different subjects.

Other schools in Nancy include the École des Beaux-Arts de Nancy for art, the School of architecture of Nancy for building design, and the ICN Graduate Business School for business studies. There are also schools for computer technology, forestry, and more.

Sports

Nancy has two major professional sports teams: AS Nancy-Lorraine for football and SLUC Nancy for basketball. AS Nancy-Lorraine has had many famous players and coaches over the years. They won an important French cup in 1978 and another big cup in 2006.

SLUC Nancy has also achieved many successes, winning a European basketball competition in 2002 and their first major French championship in 2008.

Prominent people from Nancy

Nancy, France, has been home to many notable individuals across various fields.

Lambert-Sigisbert Adam was a famous sculptor from the 18th century, while François-Émile André was a well-known architect. Marie Henri d'Arbois de Jubainville made contributions as a historian and philologist. Charles Baudiot was a talented cellist and composer, and Henri-Étienne Beaunis was a pioneer in the study of the mind and hypnosis at the Nancy School of Hypnosis.

Other prominent figures include Najoua Belyzel, a popular singer, and André Bernanose, a distinguished chemist and physicist. The city has also produced famous artists like Jacques Callot, a baroque graphics artist, and Émile Gallé, an Art Nouveau artist. Henri Poincaré was a leading mathematician and scientist, and Michel Platini became a celebrated footballer.

Economy

Business

Bellieni was a camera maker during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Transport

Nancy has a main train station called Gare de Nancy-Ville. From there, you can travel directly to big cities like Paris, Strasbourg, and Luxembourg City. There are also trains to places such as Nice, Lyon, and Marseille. The motorway A31 links Nancy to Metz, Luxembourg, and Langres.

There is an airport near Nancy called Metz–Nancy–Lorraine Airport. It offers flights within France and to some cities in North Africa. The closest international airport is EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, which is a bit farther away.

Inside Nancy, people use buses to get around. These buses are part of a service called STAN, which has been running since 2019. There is also a special bus that runs on electricity, known as a trolleybus. This type of bus has been used in Nancy since 1982.

Heraldry

The coat of arms of Nancy shows a thistle, which is a symbol linked to the Virgin Mary. It was first used by René of Anjou and later by his descendant René II, Duke of Lorraine. This special thistle, different from the Scottish one, became a symbol for the people of Lorraine during wars against Burgundy. The city of Nancy officially adopted this thistle as part of its coat of arms in 1575.

Over time, the coat of arms changed. It originally showed the upper part with the arms of the Dukes of Lorraine, but later this was replaced with symbols representing places ruled by the Dukes. These include parts of Hungary, Naples, Jerusalem, Aragon, Anjou, Guelders, Jülich, and the County of Bar. The center shows the arms of Lorraine. The coat of arms also includes a motto that appeared in the late 1500s. It was first in French and later changed to Latin. The city also displays honors it received after World War I and symbols for both World Wars.