Guide to the 10 Best Things to do in Nancy, France

Alsace may be the pearl of eastern France, and for good reason, but there are many other cities in le Grand-Est that deserve a chance! Only an hour and a half high-speed train ride from Paris, Nancy is the capital of France’s Lorraine region. This city is known for its variety of architectural styles and boasts one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. After visiting a few times this past year, I’m happy to share my guide to the 10 best things to do in Nancy, France.

1. Eat Quiche Lorraine

Even if you aren’t familiar with French cuisine, you’ve likely heard of Quiche Lorraine, the most famous quiche in France. This iconic dish can be found in practically every bakery in Nancy. Imagine biting into a warm tart of fluffy egg and cream with savory bacon bits (aka lardons), cradled by a flaky, buttery crust! This epitome of French comfort food is especially satisfying on a cold winter’s day. From experience, if you’re vegetarian, be aware that ham is found in many of the local specialties here. However, you can still find some veggie options like a leek quiche. Head over to le marché central, Nancy’s covered market to find local treats like this!

2. Walk around Nancy’s Old Town

Stroll along la Grande Rue to admire Nancy’s Old Town aka la Vielle Ville. On your walk be sure to check out:

La Place Saint Epvre

This square and its Basilica are the oldest part of the Old Town!

Le Palais des Ducs de Lorraine

This museum is housed in a gothic-style palace that was once home to the region’s dukes at the time of the Renaissance

La Porte de la Craffe

This is the oldest remaining fortified gate in Nancy, dating back to the 14th-15th centuries.

3. Sample Regional Sweets

One of the most iconic French sweets are macarons, delicate and often colorful sandwich cookies made from egg whites, sugar, and almond flour. Did you know that there is a more rustic, old fashioned version? La Maison des Soeurs Macarons , founded in 1793, is the oldest macaron shop in Nancy and THE place to try these traditional treats.

Mirabelle Plums are illegal to sell in the United States, but not in Lorraine where they are a regional specialty. These sweet golden fruits are delicious when fresh in the summer or cooked into candies and cakes. Another sweet treat includes the iconic Bergamotes de Nancy, hard candies developed in the 19th century and made with the essential oil of the fragrant bergamot citrus fruit.

If you like pastries, why not try the Baba au rhum, a small round cake soaked in syrup and – you guessed it – rhum, topped with whipped cream. The story behind this dessert is Stanislas I was eating either a cake from Alsace called a kougelhopf or a babka brought back from his travels that he found too dry, so he added liqueur to it. The rum version was later imagined by Nicolas Stohrer, the pâtissier of the duke’s daughter Marie Leszczyńska, wife of  Louis XV.

Finally, another famous French dessert that comes from the towns of Liverdun and Commercy in the Lorraine region is the madeleine, a small shell-shaped sponge cake often flavored with almond or lemon. You can find several variations today, including Mirabelle plum and Bergamot flavored madeleines.

4. Visit France’s Most Beautiful Square

Did you know that Place Stanislas in Nancy is considered to be one of France’s most beautiful squares, if not the most beautiful? This ornate square is named after 18th-century Duke of Lorraine and King of Poland, Stanislas I. Adorning the square are the City Hall, the Opera house, the Jacquet Pavillon, the Fine Arts Museum, the Héré Arch. Two Rococo fountains inspired by Greek and Roman Mythology grace the square’s northern corners. What made me fall in love with Place Stan however, are the gilded wrought-iron gates and the light ochre stone that add some brightness to the grey skies often present in the winter in Eastern France.

5. Musée des beaux-arts

Located on Place Stanislas is Nancy’s Fine Arts Museum in a gorgeous 18th-century pavilion. This museum, which was founded during the French Revolution, features mainly 20th-century European works of art, but also pieces ranging from the Middle Ages to modern times. I was able to visit for free during a special holiday weekend and my favorite piece was the contemporary and interactive “Infinity Mirror Room Fireflies on Water” by Yayoï Kusama.

6. Art nouveau

Speaking of Art, Nancy is considered to be one of the two main capitals of Art Nouveau in France, the other being Paris. This decorative style took off around the turn of the 20th century and featured designs with sinuous lines inspired by nature and used materials like class ceramics and iron. Here are some of the places you can admire the Art Nouveau style in Nancy:

L’École de Nancy Museum

A must see museum in Nancy where you can view art nouveau interiors, glassworks, and a lovely garden.

La Villa Majorelle

This is another art nouveau style residence with unique interiors. You can get a pass to visit this museum along with the École de Nancy, but be aware that you have to reserve a time slot for the Villa Majrorelle.

Parc Saurupt Neighborhood

A free way to enjoy the art nouveau style architecture is to stroll around the Parc Saurupt neighborhood of Nancy.

Brasserie L’Excelsior

Go back in time as you dine in L’Excelsior restaurant, not far from Nancy’s train station and known for its seafood.

I could write another blog post all about Art Nouveau in Nancy, so let me know if you’d like more details and photos!

7. Explore Nancy’s Parks

While visiting a city, I think it’s important to escape the bustle to breathe some fresh air and have the chance to slow down in a park. Luckily, Nancy has several lovely green spaces.

Parc Sainte-Marie

This park is near the École de Nancy museum and features beautiful trees from around the world. I visited in autumn last year and the foliage was lovely!

Parc de la Pépinière 

This park, colloquially known as la Pep’, is located near Place Stan, in the heart of Nancy’s historic center.

Parc de la Cure d’Air

Looking for a park with views of the city? Why not check out Parc de la Cure d’Air? This park is a little further from the city center and requires walking up some hills and steps, but it’s worth it for the panoramic vista of Nancy.

8. Shop Around

If you’re interested in picking up some souvenirs or just shopping in general, be sure to check out the commercial streets of rue Saint-Dizier, Rue Saint-Nicolas, rue Saint-Jean, and rue Saint-Georges.

9. Have Dinner and a Drink

I asked my French boyfriend who was a local in Nancy for a year and he gave me his recommendations for the best places to eat and drink. A couple of streets full of restaurants include rue de la faïencerie and rue de primatiale.

If you love cheese, you’ll want to eat at Le bouche à oreille, which specializes in French cheese-based dishes like fondue, tartiflette, and raclette you usually find in the Alps. Another well-loved cheese restaurant is Les Frères Marchand, which also has a cheese shop if you want something to-go. Both of these places are quite popular so, you’ll want to make reservations in advance.

If you’re looking to have an evening drink you can check out bars like Le Brexit or Le Mouton électrique (which turns into a nightclub later in the evening). Some nice bar/cafes with large patios can also be found around Place Charles III, which is less touristy than Place Stanislas. If you’re more interested in coffee shops than bars, Lyndi who is a teacher and Youtuber living in the Lorraine region has a video all about the best coffee shops in Nancy on her channel La Petite Américaine.

10. Marchés de Noel

Finally, one of the best things to do in Nancy if you visit during the end of November to the beginning of January, is to see the Christmas Markets! The marchés de Noël here are actually called les Villages de Saint-Nicolas because in this part of France, Saint-Nicolas is an important religious figure.

This time of year, festive markets are scattered amongst the city’s squares. They’re great places to have a warm treat or drink or find a memorable souvenir. Last year, I visited during the Fête de Saint-Nicolas weekend which usually happens at the beginning of December, and got to experience free events, music, and a parade!

Check out this mini-vlog I made on TikTok of the Fête de Saint-Nicolas:

@baguettesandbicyclettes

So fun, yet so cold! #saintnicolas #christmasmarket #fêtedesaintnicolas #nancyfrance #christmasinfrance #frenchculture #christmasineurope #lorraine #frenchculture #marchedenoel

♬ Jazz that Christmas masterpiece 3 – Single Origin Music

Bonus Things to do in Nancy, France

A few other activities that I have heard about in Nancy, but haven’t tried myself include:

• Seeing a show at the Opéra national de Lorraine. They host concerts, operas, and dance performances ranging from traditional to contemporary.
• Having a spa day in the newly reopened Nancy Thermal. However, it’s gotten mixed reviews, which made me hesitant to try it.

Nancy Vlog

As with most places I visit in France, I made a vlog of my visits to Nancy. Feel free to take a look if you want to see even more of Nancy!

If you made it this far, thanks so much for reading, and please follow the blog for more adventures in France!

À la prochaine,

Camden