Fléville-devant-Nancy is a small commune just south of Nancy, best known for the Château de Fléville — one of the finest Renaissance castles in eastern France. The château has been in private ownership for nearly two centuries and is open to visitors.
The castle's history starts with a 14th-century keep, 30 metres high, which was spared by Cardinal Richelieu at the request of King Louis XIII. The Renaissance wings were completed in 1533, demonstrating early French Renaissance architecture at its most graceful: a 35-metre-long balcony with elegant windows runs the length of the principal facade. The interior includes the grand Estates of Lorraine Room, which tells the history of the Dukes of Lorraine, and several intimate family rooms. Both the castle and the park are listed historic monuments.
Fléville is a short drive from Nancy — about 10 km — and is best visited as an excursion from the city, which offers far more in the way of food, accommodation, and Art Nouveau architecture.