The Place Stanislas is a large square in the French city of Nancy, located in the Lorraine historic region. It was built between 1752 and 1756 at the direction of Stanislaus I, a former king of Poland and grand duke of Lithuania who later became the duke of Lorraine. The square is one of the oldest examples of a public square with buildings that share a unified and impressive design, showing the style of 18th-century urban architecture. Since 1983, the group of buildings that includes the Place Stanislas, the extension of its axis, the Place de la Carrière, and the Place d'Alliance has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

History

After the War of the Polish Succession in 1737, the Duchy of Upper Lorraine, with Nancy as its capital, was given to Stanislaus I Leszczyński, a former king of Poland and the father-in-law of King Louis XV of France. Earlier, Leopold, Duke of Lorraine, had worked to rebuild Lorraine, which had been damaged by many wars. He brought in many artists and architects, including Germain Boffrand, who trained Emmanuel Héré. This gave Stanislaus a group of skilled workers to use when he arrived.

The square was a major project in city planning, created by Stanislaus I of Poland to connect the old medieval town of Nancy with the newer town built in the 17th century under Charles III, Duke of Lorraine. It was also meant to honor Stanislaus’ son-in-law, Louis XV. The design made a large open space that linked two important buildings: the Hôtel de Ville (city hall, now centered on its grand square) and the Hôtel du Gouvernement, the duchy’s main office. The city government and ducal government buildings faced each other across a series of balanced, symmetrical but varied spaces, which were unmatched in Europe at the time.

The square and nearby buildings, connected by their large columns, were designed by Emmanuel Héré de Corny, the royal architect. Construction began in March 1752 and ended in November 1755. Barthélémy Guibal and Paul-Louis Cyfflé made a bronze statue of Louis XV, which was placed in the center of the square. During the French Revolution, the statue was removed and replaced with a simple winged figure. The square was then called the "Place du Peuple" and later the "Place Napoléon."

In 1831, a bronze statue of Stanislaus was placed in the middle of the square. Since then, it has been known as the "Place Stanislas."

The square has always been used for public events and celebrations. It has had many changes over time and, during a period when it was less valued, was used as a parking area for about 25 years, from 1958 to 1983.

The city later made it a pedestrian area. From 2004 to 2005, the city restored the square using original 18th-century plans. The ten-month project cost about 9 million euros and was funded by city, local, regional, national, and private sources. The new Place Stanislas was officially opened in May 2005, marking its 250th anniversary.

Description

Place Stanislas is 125 metres (410 feet) long and 106 metres (348 feet) wide. It is paved with light ochre stones, with two lines of darker stones forming a diagonal cross pattern. The square is surrounded by a well-designed group of buildings, including the following:

• The City Hall (Hôtel de Ville) of Nancy covers the entire south side of the square, with the government office of Meurthe-et-Moselle located at the southeast corner.
• To the east, the Opera house (formerly the Bishop’s Palace) and the Grand Hôtel (originally the Hôtel de la Reine, later occupied by the Intendant Alliot) are located.
• To the west, the Fine Arts Museum (originally the Collège de médecine) and the Pavillon Jacquet (originally a commercial/residential building, now mostly offices) are found.
• On the north side, the buildings are shorter to allow for crossfire between the Vaudemont and Haussonville bastions for defensive purposes.

The Arc Héré, a triumphal arch built by Emmanuel Héré de Corny, stands in the center of the fourth side, leading to the nearby Place de la Carrière. This area features a double avenue of trees with symmetrical buildings facing each other along its length.

At the far end of the avenue, half-circle columns enclose the sides and extend across the existing façade of the Palais du Gouvernement.

The four corners and the east and west sides of the square have gilded wrought iron gates and lanterns created by Jean Lamour (1698–1771). He also designed the wrought iron balustrade on the main staircase of the Hôtel de Ville and the balcony across its main façade. The northwest and northeast corners also have ornate fountains designed by Barthélémy Guibal (1699–1757). Because of these gates, Nancy is nicknamed "City with Golden Gates" (Ville aux Portes d'Or).

In the center of Place Stanislas stands a statue of Stanislas, created by Georges Jacquot. The figure shows Stanislas wearing flowing robes, holding a sword in his left hand and pointing north with his right hand. The high marble pedestal has inscriptions.

The Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), also known as Palais de Stanislas (Stanislas’s Palace), is the largest building in the square, measuring 98 metres long. It covers the entire south side of the square. Built between 1752 and 1755, it has served as the city hall since its completion. It was declared a historic monument on July 12, 1886.

Key features of Place Stanislas include:
• The Golden Gate in Place Stanislas
• The Fountain of Neptune
• The Arc Héré ("Héré Arch")
• A 2014 panorama of Place Stanislas