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Origin and history

The bastion of Haussonville, located in Nancy, is a key element of the old fortifications of the city, built between the 15th and 16th centuries. This site concentrates three distinct phases of nean military history, marked by successive changes, notably by engineer Vauban in the seventeenth century. It thus illustrates the adaptation of defensive systems to strategic developments, from the Middle Ages to the modern era. The bastion is today preserved under the Museum of Fine Arts, where its foundations, visible at level -1, offer a rare architectural testimony of this period.

Integrated with the UNESCO World Heritage listed urban complex, Haussonville's bastion dialogues with Nancy's broader history, including its role under the Duchy of Lorraine. Its location under the 18th century pavilion, designed by Emmanuel Heré for Stanislas Leszczyński, creates a contrast between the eras. The archaeological excavations carried out in 1999, during the extension of the museum, made it possible to highlight these remains, while revealing their connection with the Daum factory, whose collections are displayed nearby.

Ranked Historic Monument by order of 16 May 1995, the bastion is now owned by the commune of Nancy. Its state of conservation and its accessibility to the public, via the museum, make it an essential place of memory to understand the military and urban history of Lorraine. Modern developments, such as the Daum gallery installed in its foundations, highlight the contemporary re-appropriation of this heritage, combining art, history and industry.

The bastion also embodies the superposition of epochs: its medieval walls now support contemporary works of art, symbolizing the transition between military defense and culture. The museum's temporary exhibitions, often linked to local history, take advantage of this framework to evoke Nancy's stratified past, where each architectural layer tells a phase of its development. Finally, its exact location, at 1 Gustave-Simon Street, makes it a geographical anchor for visitors exploring the heritage of the country.

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