Place Stanislas, a royal square
Place Stanislas is the jewel of Nancy, the magnificent capital of the former Duchy of Lorraine.
Commissioned in the early 1750s by Stanisław Leszczyński, former King of Poland and Duke of Lorraine, Place Stanislas was designed by the renowned architect Héré to embody the splendour and prestige of the Duchy.
Surrounded by prestigious buildings, from the majestic Ducal Palace to the various institutions that adorn it, Place Stanislas exudes an aura of timeless magnificence. Its exceptional architecture and historical significance have thus earned it a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Place Royale’s lavish inauguration
The Place Royale, as it was known until 1831, formed a majestic architectural link between the medieval and modern quarters of Nancy, harmoniously integrating the Vieille-Ville – Old Town and the Ville-Neuve – New Town.
Conceived to showcase the duchy, the Place Stanislas was built with remarkable meticulousness in just three and a half years. Its inauguration on November 26, 1755, was a spectacle of unparalleled extravagance and splendour.
Indeed, Stanisław Leszczyński made a royal entry into Nancy through the monumental gates of the Porte Saint-Nicholas (Gate), at the head of a procession of seven carriages escorted by pages on horseback. Military regiments rendered him honours before the start of the lavish festivities.
However, inclement weather forced the organisers to postpone the grand finale fireworks display, the only blemish on the otherwise perfect celebration.
Classical and baroque architecture
The vaults and facades of the buildings surrounding Place Stanislas are a remarkable illustration of classical architecture, while their balconies and various Baroque decorations add a touch of refined sophistication.
This architectural ensemble comprises prestigious monuments: the Ducal Palace, the City Hall, the Queen’s Hotel, the Jacquet Pavilion, the Opera House, the Bishop’s Palace, and the Museum of Fine Arts, housed in the former Academy of Medicine.
Two lower buildings, framing the Triumphal Arch, also known as the Arc Héré, contribute to the harmony of this architectural masterpiece. The square is also embellished with two lavish Rococo fountains, each representing the mythical figures of Neptune and Amphitrite.
But above all, Nancy is known as the La Ville aux Portes d’Or – City of Golden Gates for the six gilded wrought-iron gates that adorn the entrances to the square, creations of Jean Lamour, a talented locksmith at the court of Stanislas Leszczyński. These magnificent gates are decorated with intricate motifs: the monogram of Louis XV, oak leaves symbolising strength, the Gallic rooster representing France, and the emblematic Fleur de Lys. These exceptional architectural features are all listed as historical monuments.
In 1759, Duke Stanislas Leszczyński bequeathed the Place Royale to the city of Nancy. Sadly, the French Revolution, which broke out 30 years later, did not spare this magnificent square. The once imposing statue of King Louis XV, which adorned its centre, was toppled and melted down.
The square was renamed Place Stanislas in 1831, and a statue of the Duke of Lorraine was erected on the spot where the statue of Louis XV had once stood. Over the decades, numerous improvements were made to enhance and optimise the use of Place Stanislas, thus ensuring its status as an iconic landmark of Nancy.
Place Stanislas renovated for its 250th anniversary
In 2003, the discovery of a model of the original Place Stanislas offered the Historic Monuments department an exceptional opportunity to undertake a restoration project aimed at restoring its former glory.
In just over two years, meticulous work was thus carried out to recreate the mosaics, restore the building facades, re-gild the ornamental railings, and widen the sidewalks, all while respecting its historical authenticity.
The newly restored Place Stanislas was inaugurated with great fanfare on May 19, 2005. To commemorate this event, a time capsule, containing a unique collection of objects, including a lunar meteorite and a collection of thoughts and drawings donated by the people of Nancy, was buried beneath the square and its location marked by a star.
Department of Meurthe-et-Moselle in Lorraine
Coordinates: Lat 48.692054 – Long 6.184417
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Header and Photo4 by Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) CC BY 3.0 – Arc Héré by Clément Bardot CC BY-SA 3.0 – Fontaine d’Amphitrite by Dguendel CC BY 3.0 – Photo1 by Moala CC BY 2.5
