Place de la Carrière is the long, tree-lined esplanade that connects the Arc Héré to the Palais du Gouvernement at the far end. Together with Place Stanislas and the Hemicycle in front of the Palais, it forms a UNESCO-listed ensemble of 18th-century urban space that is unique in France. The Carrière was originally used for tournaments and equestrian exercises — the word means "racecourse" — which explains its long, rectangular form.
Walking its length is one of the essential experiences of Nancy. The trees form a double avenue, and the buildings on either side are elegant 18th-century townhouses. At the far end, the Palais du Gouvernement closes the view with a Classical colonnade. The whole sequence, from the gilded gates of Place Stanislas to this final facade, is a remarkably complete example of Enlightenment city planning.