Nancy

The Place Stanislas named after the Polish king and duke of Lorraine Stanislaw Leszczynski, Place de la Carrière, and Place d'Alliance were added on the World Heritage Sites list by the UNESCO in 1983. Place Stanislas was a major project in urban planning imagined by Stanisław Leszczyński, Duke of Lorraine and former King of Poland, as a way to link the medieval old town of Nancy and the new town built under Charles III in the 17th century. The square would also be a place royale to honor his son-in-law, Louis XV.



Year Decision Comments
1983 Inscribed Reasons for inscription

Reviews

Ricardo Ecuador (Ecuador):
Nancy is probably one of the best city i've visited
I can't forget the stanislas place and the modern style!!
Sure, I ran out of time to do more in Nancy

Stanislas place is especially nice at the night...
Date posted: January 2009
Frederik Dawson (Netherlands):
Nancy, the capital city of Lorraine in eastern France, does not see a lot of tourists like Strasbourg or Reims. Many tourists just use this city as a transit place and ignore its beautiful city centre.

The city looks a little bit run down and not attractive, however, the city square, the famous Place Stanislas is totally different with other parts of the city (my ideas is Nancy used its all city budget to maintain this place). Standing in Place Stanislas gives the feeling like you are in Paris, the royal capital, more than Nancy. The square is full with gilded statues, fountains, gates, lovely city hall, opera house and museums.

The history behide it is also very interesting. When the Polish King Stanislas (King Louis XV’s father in law) exiled to France, his son in law gave the title Duke of Lorraine and allowed him to rule Lorraine as his kingdom. To make the backwater Nancy as royal capital, King Stanislas built new city which has Place Stanislas as a center and use for public assemblies and festivities. This is the symbol of enlightened age and his kingship for Stanislas and his son in law who abled to understand public demands by designed this place for public. (The reason for WHS inscription)

Place Stanislas is in the centre of Nancy and not far from the central train station. From the main entrance of the train station, you will see the old and dirty arch gate which is part of Stanislas plan to like old with new city. Walkthough the gate for about 1 km. pass many somber buildings and you will see Place Stanislas at the end of the street.
Date posted: September 2006
Pascal Mary (France):
A goog link to discover Stanislas Place :

http://www.laplusbelleplacedumonde.com
Date posted: April 2006
Klaus Freisinger (Austria):
Nancy doesn´t really belong to France´s world-class sights and cities, but it has atmosphere, charm, and culture nonetheless. By a curious twist of history, a former king of Poland came to rule Lorraine in the first half of the 18th century and set about transforming the city into something more modern than he had inherited (something like Augustus changing Rome from a city of bricks into one of marble). The result can be seen today, and the squares, palaces, residences, and parks that constitute the historic core of Nancy form a Baroque ensemble that is very pleasant and well-preserved. Again, not an absolute must-see sight, but worth a detour if you are in eastern France.
 


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