Nancy is a small French town in the northeast, close to Germany. It’s well-known as the birthplace of Art Nouveau, and has a beautiful cityscape!
Nancy can be reached from Paris by TGV (high-speed train) in about two and a half hours.
I went on a day trip to Nancy, so I’m going to introduce what I actually did there!
1. Enjoy coffee in a brasserie with art nouveau decoration
The Brasserie L’Excelsior, right in front of Nancy Station, is a lovely brasserie with famous Art Nouveau architecture.
In the morning, many people come to enjoy breakfast and cafes, so you can feel free to enter.
Their Art Nouveau style lamps, stained glass, and antique interior are elegant, so I definitely want to relax.
Of course, you can also enjoy lunch and dinner here.
2. Go to Place Stanislas, a World Heritage square in Nancy
Stanislas Square, one of the World Heritage Sites, is surrounded by beautiful buildings and sculptures.
Many cafes are lined up in the square. There are outside seats so you can have a coffee with a beautiful view, as shown in the photo. It’s great to have a drink or lunch here on a sunny day.
Place Stanislas
3. Museum of Fine Arts in Nancy (Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nancy)
At the Museum of Fine Arts in Nancy on Palace Stanislas, you can see some paintings by Monet and Picasso. There are also paintings by my favorite artist, Raoul Dufy!
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nancy
3 Place Stanislas, 54000 Nancy
4. Hanging around Grande Rue
Continue walking through Stanislas Square until you reach Grande Rue. Grand Rue means “boulevard” in French. This is Nancy’s old town, and you can enjoy the lovely cityscape.
5. Saint-Epvre Church (Basilique Saint-Epvre)
Unfortunately, it was closed when I went there. I couldn’t get inside. But at Saint-Evre church, you can see magnificent stained glasses.
Basilique Saint-Epvre
Place Saint-Epvre, 54000 Nancy
6. Take a look at Marché Couvert de Nancy
Marché Couvert de Nancy is a market, and it was open until the evening, as many French marches close the afternoon! The market sells fresh vegetables, fruits, cheeses, and quiche Lorraine, a French tart that is originally from the Lorraine region.
Speaking of the prices here in Nancy, they are lower than in Paris, especially the cheese.
The region’s specialty, La quiche lorraine, costs only 2.6 euros in this volume.
It was a simple taste of bacon and eggs.
Marché couvert de Nancy
Place Henri Mengin, 54000 Nancy
7. Check out the art nouveau house at the Musée de l’École de Nancy
Return to the station and walk in the opposite direction of the square for about 20 minutes. Here, art nouveau furniture is displayed, giving you a better idea of the lifestyle of the time. If you like interior design, this is the place you must visit.
Musée de l’École de Nancy
38 Rue Sergent Blandan, 54000 Nancy
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