Activities and Tourism in Nancy
Nancy, a historic city
With its centuries of history, Nancy boasts endless places to visit. Explore its historic centre, its UNESCO-listed squares, its old medieval fortifications, its Art Nouveau buildings and much more besides.
Don’t miss the famous Place Stanislas: it’s one of the most beautiful squares in the world and was voted France’s Favourite Monument in 2021. You can also explore Nancy’s Old Town, with its narrow streets, the Palais Ducal, which now houses the Musée Lorraine, and the Church of Saint-François-des-Cordeliers, where the tombs of the Dukes of Lorraine can be found.
The city can be explored:
with several routes to admire Nancy’s impressive attractions.
Choose from various walking routes to visit Place Stanislas and UNESCO monuments, learn more about the Dukes of Lorraine or enjoy the city’s Art Nouveau tour.
with various cycle routes which are suitable for everyone:
- BY THE WATER, 18 km, 1 hour and 30 minutes (Easy)
- TOUR OF THE CHÂTEAUX, 23 km, 1 hour and 45 minutes (Easy)
- HISTORIC NANCY, 10 km, 1 hour (Easy)
- CHARTREUSE AND BASILICA, 31 km, 2 hours (Average)
- THE AMEZULE RIVER AND LE GREMILLON, 40 km, 2 hours and 30 minutes (Average)
Nancy, an artistic city
The city has a distinctive Art Nouveau style, thanks to the École de Nancy (or Nancy School), an artistic movement which developed in response to the annexation of Alsace and Moselle in 1871, bringing together entrepreneurs, craftsmen and industrialists, including the famous Emile Gallé. Nancy’s first Art Nouveau house, Villa Majorelle is an iconic example of this movement.
You can also visit the Musée de l’École de Nancy, which focuses on Art Nouveau, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nancy which features collections of artwork by some of Europe’s greatest painters, and the Féru des Sciences, a museum with exhibitions and experiments on the history of iron in Lorraine.
The city has celebrated its street art since 2015 and you can admire some thirty contemporary urban works of art by following the DNA walking route.
Nancy, a cultural city
The city of Nancy has plenty to offer when it comes to culture. With the Opéra National de Lorraine (one of France’s five national opera houses), the Orchestre Symphonique et Lyrique, the Ballet de Lorraine, the Théâtre de la Manufacture, the Ensemble Poirel (auditorium and art gallery), L'Autre Canal (a live music venue), the Zénith (concert and show venue) and many small theatres, there’s something for every fan of the arts.
Nancy, a gastronomic city
Nancy is famous for its confectionery and pastries, including bergamote, a delicious rectangular sweet with a golden colour and a bergamot flavour, a fruit similar to lemon, from Sicily, which belonged to the Duke of Lorraine René I.
It is also famous for its mirabelle plum, Saint-Epvre cake (made of two discs of almond meringues filled with a vanilla cream mixed with crushed nougatine), Duchesse de Lorraine sweets, gingerbread, Gâteau de Nancy chocolate cakes and Stanislas rum babas. There’s plenty to enjoy for those with a sweet tooth!
And when it comes to savoury dishes, there’s the legendary quiche lorraine, of course. You can also try petit pâté lorrain (made with meat marinated in white wine), bouchées à la Reine, local charcuterie, potée lorraine (a stew with cabbage, carrots, sausages, meat) and choucroute!
Make the most of your stay with a meal at the Restaurant des Frères Marchand, an unmissable restaurant in Nancy’s Old Town which is just a stone’s throw from our hotel; we can also recommend a host of other places to try, including:
- Le Marché Central de Nancy
- Les Fous de Terroirs
- Les Sœurs Macarons
- La Pâtisserie Adam and more.
Nancy, a green city
Nancy is a particularly green city and boasts a large number of parks, gardens and squares. In fact, you’ll never be more than 10 minutes’ walk from one of them.
Jean-Marie Pelt Botanical Garden is an undulating park with 12,000 registered species and is one of the most important botanical gardens in France. Parc de la Pépinière is right in the city centre and boasts stunning English-style gardens, while Parc de Sainte-Marie is renowned for its peaceful feel, thanks to its surrounding woods which muffle the noise of the city. It's the ideal place to visit to unwind.
What’s more, the city also hosts Les Jardins Éphémères, an annual event which transforms Place Stanislas into a lush haven. Designed with sustainability in mind, these gardens use recycled materials and plants which, once the event is over, are used in other green spaces in the city. A showcase for biodiversity, these gardens pay tribute to Nancy’s botanical history, a source of inspiration for the artists of the École de Nancy.
Nancy, a spa city
In the heart of this dynamic city, Nancy also boasts Nancy THERMAL, a haven of wellness.
Relax in the Spa area, making the most of the historic round swimming pool and its hydromassage whirlpool jets, or enjoy the benefits of hydrotherapy in the Hydrotherapy area. And no matter what your age, you’ll love the Leisure and Aquasport area, which boasts 2,500 m² of indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities.
Near Nancy
There are plenty of incredible things to see and do near Nancy:
- Lunéville is home to a magnificent château, often dubbed the “Versailles of Lorraine”. Boasting stunning classical architecture, a visit to this château is the perfect opportunity to learn all about Lorraine’s royal past.
- In St Nicolas de Port, you’ll be amazed by the basilica, a remarkable example of flamboyant Gothic architecture. You can also visit the town’s beer museum to find out more about traditional brewing which has long been popular in Lorraine.
A host of annual events
Nancy is a very lively city which hosts many unmissable events, including:
Livre sur la Place: September
This annual book fair, held in Nancy’s Place Carrière, is one of the biggest literary events in France. National and international authors present their work, meet their readers and take part in literary debates.
St Nicholas festival: December
A centuries-old tradition in honour of Saint Nicholas (the patron saint of the city of Nancy), this event includes parades, puppet shows, fireworks and other celebrations in the city’s streets.
Livres d’Ailleurs: April
Livres d’Ailleurs is a literary festival which showcases foreign authors from all over the world. The event includes literary gatherings, public readings and discussions on international literature.
Guinguettes de l’Été and sound and light shows: This summer event along the banks of the Meurthe features guinguettes (outdoor bars, cafés and dance halls) and sound and light shows which showcase Nancy’s heritage.
Nancy Open Air: Nancy Open Air is an outdoor musical event featuring live concerts at Le Zénith du Grand Nancy for locals and visitors alike.
NJP (Nancy Jazz Pulsations): October
A music festival which celebrates jazz and contemporary music with a varied programme of concerts, musical performances and shows at various venues in the city.