Musée de l'École de Nancy

The Musée de l'École de Nancy is housed in a converted villa in a quiet residential district south of the city centre, surrounded by a garden that itself functions as an Art Nouveau exhibit. The collection spans furniture by Émile Gallé, Louis Majorelle, and the Daum brothers, alongside stained glass, ceramics, and the extraordinary everyday objects that the school's craftsmen elevated into art.

What makes the museum exceptional is the coherence of the collection. The pieces aren't isolated curiosities — they show a complete vision of interior design, where the furniture, the light fittings, and the wallpaper all came from the same movement. The Daum glassware in particular, with its deep colours and naturalistic motifs of dragonflies, orchids, and autumn leaves, is astonishing. Budget a solid two hours, and allow time for the garden.

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A story
The École de Nancy was founded in 1901 by Émile Gallé, who was dying of leukemia and wanted to ensure his craft traditions survived him. The movement he led — blending Art Nouveau with the natural world of Lorraine — produced furniture, glassware, and ceramics that sold across Europe. Gallé himself died in 1904, just three years after founding the school, but his followers kept the movement alive for another two decades.