kk

In order to extend the joy of my trip, I'm beginning now to get into its details...four months from now around Christmastime, I will be going from Wiesbaden in Germany over to Alsace Lorraine. I want to see Nancy and think I've found the perfect little hotel, right in the "vielle" quarter. Can anyone tell me about their travels to Nancy? <BR> <BR>Also, I'm now looking into Metz, which is just up the road north of Nancy, about 55 kms. It looks interesting too. Has anyone been there with things to recommend? I am all ears--or eyes, as the case may be. Many thanks.

Christina

I only spent one day in Nancy but liked it very much and had a good time; I would have liked to have had at least two days to see everything I wanted. My main interests are architecture, fine arts, history and classical music, though -- Nancy has lots to offer in those categories. The top attractions to me, which I made sure I saved time for, were the Nancy Ecole Art Nouveau museum and an architectural walking tour of that section of town where there are a lot of good examples--that's one of the best art nouveau museums in the world. I can't remember where I got my info for the architectural tour, I had notes of specific buildings--well, no doubt a guidebook or the internet. They also have one of the best French regional museums on local art, folklore, and archeology, including an entire wing on the history of the Paris commune, quite unique. I found some fascinating old photographs on the top floor tucked in a corner of Chopin's birthplaces and father's home, I hadn't realized it was around Nancy (they moved to Poland when he was young but the family was French). The main park near the museums, and central place where the tourist office are are quite striking, also. I'm also a Eur. history buff and had to check out the Jeanne d'Arc statue, she was important in that area as well as historical events, of course. They have a terrific orchestra and are the center of good performing arts in that region. I didn't go to Metz, not enough time, but they have a good web site with lots of info.

Nancy

I stayed in Nancy a few years ago at a <BR>lovely hotel right on the main square. <BR>I can't think of the name but it had beautiful large rooms overlooking the square. On the day we were there teacher's were rioting in the square and were prying up cobblestones to throw around. I watched from my room. <BR>

k

Thank you, Christina. I recall earlier postings of yours about Nancy. My interests are similar to yours and I actually got goose bumps when you were talking about the Chopin house. O my! <BR> <BR>Now, fodorite Nancy (as opposed to Nancy the city, gee this is confusing), if you can dig up the hotel name, I would appreciate it. I spent my lunch hour at Barnes & Noble and found a guidebook of French hotels that notes the one I'd found that was absolutely perfect (the Hotel de Guise) is closed the last 10 days of December. I can check on that but have not much hope that facts are otherwise, esp. since the guidebook was published this year. So I am still looking for a hotel. <BR>I have found both of the websites for Nancy and Metz and they are enticing.

BTilke

We just drove from Baden Baden (DE) back to Brussels on Monday (coming back from a week in Austria). We didn't get to Nancy, but took the backroads through many of the villages. The nicest was Niederbronn les Bains (will doublecheck spelling don't have atlas in front of me). As it was a Monday in August, however, many of the villages were completely closed. Nobody was home for entire blocks and virtually every store we passed in the little villages was shut tight. <BR>We stopped in Metz which was ok, but not exciting. I would do Nancy and then for something different, Niederbronn...very pretty little town. <BR>We were disappointed with Baden-Baden, FYI. My husband had lived there with his grandmother in the late 1970s when it was still quite elegant. It's faded elegance now, even has a McDonald's in one of the main squares, lots of empty stores on some of the side streets, and was filled with low budget day trippers. Still attractive, but definitely a step down from its more glorious past. <BR>BTilke

ALW

I found Metz unexciting but very very pretty...that golden stone is something else! I never made it to Nancy.

kk

ALW, is the golden stone of Metz something like the golden stone that the Cotswolds buildings are built with, if you've seen those? Those are certainly charming.

ALW

I don't remember the Cotswolds having as rich a hue as Metz. Here's a (not brilliant) site on Metz, with some photos: <BR> <BR>http://andre.simon1.free.fr/page12.htm <BR> <BR>And here's a Metz Webcam (gotta love the Internet!): <BR> <BR>http://www.mairie-metz.fr:8080/METZ/METZ_WEBCAM.html

Nancy

Dear KK, I will check on it tonight and get back to you.

kk

ALW, thanks for the websites which I will hop over and look at now. <BR>Can't imagine stone that rich...maybe I need to go see it. <BR> <BR>Nancy, thanks for checking.

Alec

I've visited both Nancy and Metz a few times and I agree that Nancy, the capital of Lorraine, is the prettier of the two. The yellow sandstones used extensively in the historical centre of Metz are similar to those in the Cotswolds. I remember a glorious view of the cathedral (fine Chagall windows inside) from a bridge over the Moselle in the setting sun. The hotel on the main place Stanislas (astonishingly beautiful in guilded splendour) in Nancy is probably Grand Hotel de la Reine, housed in a 18c palace with a celebrated restaurant. Both cities suffered extensive damage in the two world wars, and have been rebuilt and restored, more successfully IMHO in Nancy. Both places were free of tourist hordes even in August. It will be cold and possibly damp in December, but Christmas lights will I think more than compensate.

kk

Thanks to all you who commented. It was enough to make me think we can stay in Nancy and make a stop in Metz...want to see those golden stone buildings and the cathedral with Chagall windows. Cold, I can take cold in order to get a second trip in to Europe in one year, yippee!

Nancy

Yes it was the Grand Hotel, really beautiful, check it out and have a great time.

PatD

There is a fabulous catheral- Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Reims that has very famous Chagall windows (could those be the windows you are looking for?). Reims is also one of the best towns in Lorraine for shopping in addition to doing the Champagne caves. Worth a detour. We stayed in Metz as a stopover. Nothing worth the trip other than a pretty town center.