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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Porte de la Citadelle is a vestige of the fortifications of Nancy, erected in 1598 under the reign of Duke Charles III of Lorraine. Designed by the architect Florent Drouin le Jeune, it is part of a defensive reinforcement project of the city, in addition to the Gate of the Craffe. Its Renaissance style reflects the Italian influence, typical of the Lorrain military architecture of the time.

At the end of the 16th century, Nancy, capital of the Duchy of Lorraine, suffered growing geopolitical tensions. The Duke Charles III, anxious to modernise urban defences, entrusted the military engineer Orfeo Galeani with the construction of atria bastions, a tactical innovation to resist cannons. The gate, originally named Porte Notre-Dame, marked the entrance to the citadel, a fortified complex that is now extinct.

Over the centuries, the door loses its defensive function. The ramparts and ditches were gradually dismantled under pressure from urbanization, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. Only a few gates, such as the Citadelle, are spared due to their heritage value.

In 1863, a statue of Charles III, carved by Giorné Viard, was added on the north side, reinforcing its commemorative character. The gate was listed as a historic monument in 1910, recognizing its architectural importance and its role in Nancy's history. In the 20th century, a back door allows access to the old wall, transformed into a medieval garden in the 1990s.

This garden, peaceful and didactic, offers a dive into botany and plant uses in the Middle Ages. Today, the Citadel Gate is a place of memory and strolling, integrated into the urban landscape. It symbolizes Lorraine's military heritage and attracts visitors for its history, architecture and hidden garden.

Initiatives such as a book box in the garden strengthen its anchor in local life.

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