Tom`s travels: Nancy (05/03/2017)

After taking a bus from Strasbourg we reached the outskirts of Nancy two hours later and then had to take the metro to the city center. We got off and began our visit with the Cathedral; dedicated to the Annunciation and to St Sigisbert, it is a great example of Baroque architecture. After visiting its interior we weren't far from reaching the main attraction of the city: Place Stanislas. The square, built in the 18th century under the rule of Stanislaw Leszczynski both King of Poland and Duke of Lorraine, was supposed to be the connecting point between the older medieval part and the newer 17th century part. Surrounded by grandiose buildings such as the Hotel de Ville, the Opera House, the Fine Arts Museums and opened on its northern side by the Arc Héré a triumphal arch. At its north eastern and western ends it featured two fountains surrounded by a golden wrought iron fence. Crossing under the Arc Héré, we reached the long Place Carriere, another of Stanislaw's additions to the city, then reaching the Basilique St Epvre. Built in a neo-Gothic style during the 19th century it featured a large dark interior with nicely-made stained glasses. From there we reached the northern part of the city where the impressive Porte de la Craffe dating to the 14th century. Right next to the gate, we stopped at a bakery called Gollé where we tried a small raspberry cake which tasted really good. After that we headed back to the main square where we decided to visit the Musee des Beaux Arts. Entrance was 4,5 euros and hosted paintings from the medieval times all the way to the modern era, including from famous artists such as Tintoretto, Friant etc. Then we walked back northwards and reached the Musee Lorrain hosted in two connected buildings, the Ducal Palace with a Gothic facade dating to the 15th century and which used to be the home of the Dukes of Lorraine, and the Eglise des Cordeliers also gothic in style. Entrance was 4 euro and the part in the palace featured objects and paintings from antiquity all the way to the 19th century, while the church featured gothic sculptures along with farming tools and furniture of lorraine's past. After a short break where we had some taboulé for lunch, we headed out and south reaching the bottom end of the city, passing the southern gate and reaching the Eglise de Notre Dame de Bonsecours, which is the resting place of Stanislaw Leszczynski but was unfortunately closed. It was then getting late, and getting back into the city center to see the main square by night before taking the bus back to Strasbourg.