Place Stanislas

Nancy, France

Nancy, the temporary residence of a king without a kingdom – Stanislaw I Leszczynski, later to become Duke of Lorraine – is paradoxically the oldest and most typical example of a modern capital where an enlightened monarch proved to be sensitive to the needs of the public. Built between 1752 and 1756 by a brilliant team led by the architect Héré, this was a carefully conceived project that succeeded in creating a capital that not only enhanced the sovereign's prestige but was also functional. Since 1983, the architectural ensemble comprising the Place Stanislas, the extension of its axis, the Place de la Carrière, and the Place d'Alliance, has been on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

After the War of the Polish Succession in 1737, the Duchy of Upper Lorraine, of which Nancy was the capital, was given to Stanislaw I Leszczynski, former Ruler of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and father-in-law to King Louis XV of France. An earlier ruler, Leopold, Duke of Lorraine, had undertaken a lot of reconstruction in Lorraine, which had been ravaged by a series of wars. He had surrounded himself by artists and architects, including Germain Boffrand, who trained Emmanuel Héré. Hence, Stanislaw found a pool of talent and experience to draw from on his arrival. The square was a major project in urban planning, dreamt up by Stanislaw I, as a way to link the medieval old town of Nancy and the new town built under Charles III in the 17th century.

In 1831, a bronze statue of Stanislas was placed in the middle of the square.

References:

Comments

Your name



Address

Place Stanislas 9, Nancy, France
See all sites in Nancy

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Davids Jermuss (16 months ago)
This is definitely a must go if you are in Nancy. It is just beautiful with the old town buildings and since it's the centre of the old town, there is a 15 minute long light show every night at 10PM.
Marcus Schuler (16 months ago)
If you're in Nancy, you have to come here. It is the centre of the old town, surrounded by centuries of history, great, very well-maintained buildings and part of the historic route. The gleaming golden portals leading in all directions give it a special flair.
Jules Spaanjaars (16 months ago)
Place Stanislas is impressive, royal, clean and friendly. It has an Austrian atmosphere with big light-colored houses in style surrounding it. Absolutely worthwhile to visit and discover other historic sceneries around Nancy
Morgan Johnson (17 months ago)
Loved the vibe! The great square, the gorgeous gate, cafes and people watching. Every street leading to the square has plenty of restaurant choices and interesting shops. It's a nice area to walk as well as through the park.
Philipp Schiwek (17 months ago)
Place Stanislas is the major landmark of Nancy and one of the most beautiful squares in France, if not even all of Europe. There is no charge to enter the square and it is lovely to stroll. Many cafés and tourist shops can be found here. A visit should take at least 20 to 30minutes and you can easily spend more time exploring the area around. It is a major tourist attraction in Eastern France and UNESCO world heritage site.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Bengtskär Lighthouse

Towering 52 meters above the sea, Bengtskär lighthouse is the tallest one in Scandinavia. The building started in in 1905 after the shipwreck of S/S Helsingfors and was completed in 1906. The lighthouse was designed by architect Florentin Granholm. On December a special petrol lantern, designed and built in Paris, was brought to Bengtskär and installed atop the tower.

German fleet bombarded Bengstkär in the First World War in 1914. Since the Gulf of Finland was heavily mined, it was not until 1919 that the surrounding seas were declared safe for shipping, that the light was lit again.

After the war the military value of Bengtskär increased as part of the defence system of independent Finland. In Second World War (1941) Soviet Union made a suprise attack to island. After a bloody battle, the small Finnish garrison emerged victorious. Intermittent repairs to the facility continued during the post-war period.