Nancy is one of the finest cities in eastern France, a former ducal capital whose centre is built around the magnificent Place Stanislas — a UNESCO World Heritage Site of gilded wrought-iron gates, fountains, and grand neoclassical facades. It is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, and reason enough to visit.
Beyond Stanislas, Nancy is a city of two halves: the medieval Vieille Ville (old town) with its narrow streets and the more spacious Ville Neuve (new town) built by the dukes of Lorraine. The Arc Héré connects the two great squares, leading to the formal Place de la Carrière and the ducal quarter. The Palais Ducal houses the Musée Lorrain, one of the best regional history museums in France.
The city is also one of the capitals of Art Nouveau, with houses, shops, and villas from the École de Nancy school of design scattered through the residential quarters. The Musée de l'École de Nancy, in a converted villa south of the centre, shows the best of the movement — Gallé glassware, Majorelle furniture, and the extraordinary vision of a complete Art Nouveau interior.
The Musée des Beaux-Arts occupies a pavilion on Place Stanislas itself, and the Opéra national de Lorraine is worth checking for performances. The Marché Couvert south of the square is the place for Lorraine's famous bergamot sweets and mirabelle produce.
Just outside the city, the chateau of Fleville is one of the finest Renaissance castles in the east of France and makes for a pleasant half-day excursion.