Friday - Vieille Ville and Nancy dinner
3:00 pm - Arrival at Nancy station.
Your Nancy 3-day stay begins at the Nancy-Ville SNCF station, on Place de la Gare. Connected to the T1 streetcar (Nancy Gare stop), it's right in the heart of the city, with quick access to all the major sites. Take a detour to nearby Avenue Foch, lined with Belle Époque and Art Deco buildings, for a taste of the local architecture. Ideal for a gentle start. Then head down to the city center;
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Welcome to the city of golden gates/ Photo dépositphotos
📍 Place de la Gare, 54000 Nancy
3.15pm - 5.30pm: Old Town and Porte de la Craffe.
The Saint Epvre basilica is at the heart of the "old town", Nancy's historic district. / Photo chosen by monsieur de France: depositphotos
Explore Nancy's Vieille Ville by following the Grande Rue, the medieval axis linking the Porte de la Craffe to the Saint-Epvre basilica. This district concentrates private mansions, remnants of fortifications and charming cobbled streets. The Porte de la Craffe, from the XIVᵉ century, impresses with its massive towers. As you stroll along, you'll also discover Place Saint-Epvre and its lively terraces. Lose yourself in the little streets around Place Saint Epvre, brimming with details and mansions that remind us that Nancy was the capital of an independent duchy for 7 centuries.
The Palais Ducal in Nancy's old town was home to the Dukes of Lorraine. Duke Antoine, one of them, is depicted on the porterie / Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.Fr: Kiev.Victor/Shutterstock
📍 Grande Rue, 54000 Nancy
8:00 pm: Dinner in the Old Town.
For that first evening, enjoy the unique atmosphere of the restaurants nestled in and around the Grande Rue. Between vaulted cellars and terraces, it's the ideal place to enjoy a quiche lorraine, a pâté lorrain or a good meal. The district's lively evening atmosphere adds a special flavor to dinner in one of the city's most beautiful historic settings.
A tenacious legend says that you can change Nancy restaurants every day of the year, it's a real Nancy "national sport"/ Photo monsieur de France: depositphotos
📍 Grande Rue, 54000 Nancy
Macarons de Nancy speciality of the city Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.fr: Foodpictures/Shutterstock.com
Saturday - Central market, shopping center, Villa Majorelle and dinner Place Stanislas
09h00 - 11h00: Nancy's central market.
Created in 1852, Nancy's central market is worth a visit for gourmands or if you have an apartment and like to cook / Photo: depositphotos
A veritable gourmet heart, Nancy's marché central (Place Charles III) offers fruit, vegetables, Vosges cheeses, mirabelle plums and local specialties. Its Baltard-style halls are home to over 100 traders. Saturday mornings are particularly lively. It's a great way to immerse yourself in daily life in Nancy. Travel time: 6 min walk from the station.
📍 Place Charles III, 54000 Nancy
11:15 - 12:30: Rue Saint-Jean and shopping center.
An art nouveau facade in downtown Nancy / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France; depositphotos.
From the market, join the Rue Saint-Jean, a major shopping thoroughfare linking the train station to the historic center. Lined with boutiques, pastry shops and cafés, it illustrates the dynamism of the modern city. You'll pass the Saint-Sébastien basilica and some remarkable Art Nouveau facades. It's an ideal stroll to combine shopping, gourmet delights and discovery of Nancy's town center. You'll be able to take home some of the local specialties from confectioners and patissiers, such as the famous macaroons and bergamots. Nancy is a real destination for chocolate lovers, and boasts a wide variety of gourmet establishments with an assured reputation in a city that doesn't mess around with culinary quality. For lunch, there are a few good addresses on rue des Ponts near the shopping center;
📍 Rue Saint-Jean, 54000 Nancy
Art Nouveau element in downtown Nancy / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: depositphotos
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Villa Majorelle.
The facade of the Villa Majorelle in Nancy / Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com : Patrice Soudier de Pixabay
An absolute masterpiece of Art Nouveau in Nancy, the Villa Majorelle (1901) was the home of Louis Majorelle. Its facade adorned with floral motifs, its furniture and stained-glass windows illustrate the elegance and innovation of the movement. Recently restored, it has become an essential site for understanding Nancy's role in the history of the decorative arts. Journey time: 15 min. on foot from rue Saint-Jean;
📍 1 Rue Louis Majorelle, 54000 Nancy
4:00 pm - 5:15 pm: First visit to the UNESCO complex
The town contains a real treasure: its complex built in the 18th century by the will of King Stanislas. Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière and Place d'Alliance. They are very close to each other. Royal ambience for Place Stanislas, grandeur for Place de la Carrière and intimacy for Place d'Alliance. You're sure to get some great shots;
5.15pm - 6.30pm: Parc de la Pépinière.
The famous "Mozart" kiosk. Not far away is one of Rodin's only outdoor statues (Statue de Claude Le Lorrain) Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos
Just a stone's throw from Place Stanislas, the Parc de la Pépinière offers 21 hectares of greenery. There's a rose garden, children's playground and statues, including the only work by Rodin in a public park (the statue of Claude Le Lorrain). It's the perfect place for a relaxing break between two visits. From Villa Majorelle, it's a 20-minute walk or a 10-minute bus ride. The park's calm, family atmosphere contrasts with the hustle and bustle of the city. This is where you'll meet the people of Nancy;
📍 Boulevard du 26ᵉ RI, 54000 Nancy
The park is a festival of colors in spring. In autumn it is the setting for the NJP festival / Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: depositphotos
6:30 pm: stroll and dinner on Place Stanislas.
Nancy's Place Stanislas with its golden gates in the rising sun / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: shutterstock
On Saturday evenings, settle down on the Place Stanislas, a UNESCO-listed square. Its 18thᵉ century facades, Jean Lamour's gilded gates and elegant terraces create a unique setting. Dinner, facing one of Europe's most beautiful squares, is an unforgettable experience. At night, the illuminations add to the magic. Place Stanislas is part of a UNESCO-listed complex built in the 18th century. It is home to many typical French cafés;
Place Stanislas: magical by night / Photo by HUANG Zheng/shutterstock
📍 Place Stanislas, 54000 Nancy
The Government Palace on Quarry Square / Photo chosen by monsieur de France: depositphotos
Sunday - Musée de l'École de Nancy, Excelsior and Musée des Beaux-Arts
09:30 - 11:30: Musée de l'École de Nancy.
The spectacular dining room at the Musée de l'école de Nancy / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: François Prod'homme (c)
Dedicated to Art nouveau, the Musée de l'École de Nancy brings together glassware by Émile Gallé, furniture by Majorelle, stained glass and ceramics. Housed in a 1900s-style villa with garden, it illustrates the creativity for which Nancy is world-renowned. The visit will help you understand the importance of Art Nouveau to the city's identity. Journey time: 12 min. on foot from the station.
The stained glass is emblematic of the Nancy School / Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: jérôme Prod'homme (c)
📍 38 Rue du Sergent Blandan, 54000 Nancy
Water room at the Musée de l'Ecole de Nancy / Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: Jérôme Prod'homme (c)
12h00 – 13h30 : Brasserie Excelsior.
The Brasserie Excelsior, inaugurated in 1911, is a masterpiece of living Art Nouveau. Glass, woodwork and stained glass by Majorelle and Gallé make it a true work of art. Here, you'll enjoy French cuisine in a unique setting, a symbol of Nancy's refinement. The perfect Sunday lunch to combine gastronomy and heritage. Journey time: 10 min. on foot from the museum.
The Art Nouveau interior of L'Excelsior in Nancy / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France : By Arie m den toom - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63691716
📍 50 Rue Henri Poincaré, 54000 Nancy
2:30 - 4:30 pm: Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nancy.
Located on Place Stanislas, (you never leave it for long! ) the Musée des Beaux-Arts offers a prestigious collection ranging from Caravaggio to Monet. It also features Daum glassware and remarkable sculptures. The Daum gallery, housed in a vaulted basement, is unique in France. It's a major cultural stopover to round off a 3-day Nancy stay. Journey time: 10 min. on foot from the Excelsior.
"Les amoureux" (Lovers) painted in 1888 by Emile Friant (1863 - 1932)
📍 3 Place Stanislas, 54000 Nancy
The Daum collection at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Nancy / Photo chosen by Monsieur de France: Jérôme Prod'homme
Flavours and atmosphere to savour in Nancy
The Héré Arch. Inspired by the Arch of Septimius Severus in Rome (like the Caroussel at the Louvre in Paris). Photo by Pete Stuart/shutterstock
A stay in Nancy wouldn't be complete without its gourmet specialties. The macarons de Nancy, created in the XVIIᵉ century by the Macaron sisters, combine almond and melting sweetness, an emblematic delicacy. Another must-try are bergamotes de Nancy, little golden sweets scented with essential citrus oils, perfect for bringing home a sweet souvenir. On the savory side, it's impossible to miss the pâté lorrain, a puff pastry stuffed with pork and veal marinated in white wine and herbs, a true culinary symbol of the region. The quiche lorraine, known the world over, remains a classic to be savored on the spot, more generous and authentic than elsewhere.
Bergamote de Nancy Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.fr: Foodpictures/shutterstock.com
To accompany these dishes, try a glass of vin de Toul, an AOC appellation produced in the Lorraine vineyards, appreciated for its fruity grays and light reds. Finally, you should know that Nancy is a festive student city, enlivened by its many bars and restaurants, particularly around the Old Town, Place Stanislas and the Saint-Sébastien district. It's a city where you can eat well, go out a lot and where the friendly atmosphere goes perfectly with the discovery of its heritage.
