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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Palace of the Dukes of Lorraine, located in Nancy, is an emblematic building combining flamboyant Gothic and Renaissance styles. Built in the early 16th century by order of Duke René II after the Battle of 1477, it was the principal residence of the Dukes until the 18th century. The porterie, adorned with an equestrian statue of Duke Antoine (1512), and the Galerie des deer, with its painted ceiling destroyed in 1871, illustrate this unique architectural heritage. The palace was partially demolished by Léopold I for an unfinished project of "New Louvre", before hosting the Lorrain museum.

The facade of the palace combines Renaissance windows and Gothic balconies, while the Tower of the Clock displays the symbols of the Duchy (chardons, cross of Lorraine). A fire in 1871 severely damaged the deer gallery, whose paintings were pioneers in France. The Lorrain museum, which has been in the palace since then, traces regional history from prehistory to Empire, and highlights artists such as Ligier Richier or Georges de La Tour. The remains of Leopold I's project, such as the pilasters of the "New Louvre", remain visible in the gardens.

The palace was classified as Historic Monument in 1840, with extensive protections in 1944 and 2005. Stanislas Leszczyński, Duke of Lorraine and King of Poland, contributed indirectly by building the governor's palace on the foundations of the aborted project. The museum also extends to the church of the Cordeliers, where the Dukes of Lorraine rest, and to the adjacent convent, dedicated to popular traditions. The building thus embodies the political and cultural heritage of Lorraine, between Renaissance and Enlightenment.

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