Lorraine is a former region in northeastern France. Lorraine (map)
France, Lorraine is one of many places on the world map, but which certainly has its own zest. Alsace and Lorraine are two French regions whose names are often used together, as they are located next to each other in the east of France. It even goes so far that these areas are mentioned with a hyphen, as if they are one and the same place. This area has a very controversial history, since the Germans and the French almost lived together here, and the lands themselves passed under the control of one side or the other. It is because of these movements that these places have received their unique character, which is not found anywhere else in France. Literally everywhere culture is mixed here. The center of Lorraine is the city of Metz, which was founded in antiquity, back in the days of the Gallo-Roman period. In addition to this place, there is another historical center of Lorraine - a town where tourists can admire the elegant works of architecture of the eighteenth century, which are an integral part of the cultural heritage of France. If you think that Lorraine is for you, then your trip should certainly begin with Nancy, an amazingly beautiful town located between Alsace and Champagne. This town is cultural monument, which was included in the list of cultural heritage compiled by UNESCO. If you went to Nancy, you should definitely visit Stanislas Square there. This is amazing place- the area, which is surrounded by examples of architecture of the eighteenth century, it serves as a separator between the old and new parts of the city. If you go to the old part of the city, then you can look at the ducal palace, which was built back in the nineteenth century, as well as the Cathedral, in which all the dukes who ever ruled Lorraine are buried.
Sights of Lorraine
In the event that you like crystal, then from Nancy you need to go to Baccarat. The famous Crystal Museum is located in this place, which is dedicated to the history of this wonderful material, which has been going on for 230 years. If you wish, you can even watch a video there, in which you will be shown in detail how the crystal is made. Maybe someone does not know the name of this city - but it is a symbol of great skill all over the world, while Baccarat crystal is one of the most valuable in the world in general. If you are interested, in Lorraine there is also a factory in Luneville, which produces faience, which, although less known, is also in significant demand on the market.
If you didn’t go to Baccarat, then next to Nancy is Vittel, a city near which excellent mineral water is mined. There are springs that are known all over the world. If you want to go to the resort - there is just one such nearby - Contrexville. Next to it, by the way, there are also springs that serve as a source mineral water. Goes to these places great amount tourists who want to take a course of improvement offered by local beauty centers. Here, for sure, anyone can lose weight, and cosmetic procedures will make your appearance just wonderful.
Historic center of Lorraine
If you go north of Nancy, then there you will find the historical center of Lorraine - Metz. The city is a university city, it is widely known for its museums, as well as for the liqueur, which is made here from mirabelle plums. If you come here, be sure to pay attention to the local cathedral, after which you can proceed to the complex of buildings where the Carmelite monastery once was - these buildings were built a long time ago, back in the days of the Gallo-Roman period.
Of course, there are tourists among those who are interested in military history. If you are one of them, then you should immediately go to Verdun. In these places it will be possible to see exactly where one of the battles of the Second World War took place and consider the very line of defense called the Maginot.
As for the castles, then you should take a look at Malbrook, which will surely appeal to all fans of French culture. A variety of festivals and exhibitions are now held there, where you can see various medieval things.
Lorraine is a good choice for a person who is interested in the culture of both Germans and French.
Lorraine(fr. Lorraine, German Lothringen listen)) is a region in northeastern France. The official administrative center is the city of Metz, where the regional parliament is located. In administrative terms, Metz is equal to Nancy.
Population 2,350,657 people (11th place among regions).
The coat of arms of the province is a shield, in the golden field of which there is a scarlet baldric, burdened with three silver alerions.
Geography
The area of the territory is 23,547 km². The rivers Meuse (Meuse) and Moselle flow through it. Lorraine is the only one french region, bordering on three foreign countries - Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany.
Story
The modern region of Lorraine is far inferior in area to the medieval Duchy of Lorraine, but surpasses the later historical province. In addition to this province, it includes areas of the former provinces of Barrois and Trois-Evesche.
The borders of Lorraine have changed a lot over its long history. In 843, according to the Treaty of Verdun, the united Frankish state was divided among the three grandsons of Charlemagne. One of them, Lothair, became the owner of a territory stretching from Frisia to Rome, which included Lorraine. In 870, the area was granted the status of a duchy, confirmed in 962 by Otto I, according to which it remained part of the Holy Roman Empire until 1766.
During the 12th and 13th centuries, the duchy flourished under the Hohenstaufen emperors, but this came to an end in the 14th century due to harsh winters, poor harvests, and the Black Death. During the Renaissance, the region began to recover under Habsburg rule, which lasted until the Thirty Years' War. From 1766 to 1871, Lorraine remained part of France, causing a revision of the borders. The population of the province was mixed, but remained largely German-speaking. Since 1871, part of the region was ceded to Germany, which parted with it only at the end of the First World War; nevertheless, the Lorraine did not want to be part of it, remaining loyal to France.
With the exception of the period of the Second World War from 1940 to 1944, the region remained French and the German language and culture were strongly discouraged by the local administration. French became the administrative language and the only language in schools. After the wars, most of the Germans left the region, but even those who remain do not want an alliance with Germany, even on the terms of autonomy.
Culture of the region
Most of the population of Lorraine considers themselves to be French. Otto von Bismarck, following the results of the Franco-Prussian war, annexed 1/3 of today's Lorraine to Germany. The disputed third, also known as the Moselle, had a culture that is difficult to classify, as both Romance and Germanic dialects were present. The latter are preserved in the northern part of the region.
Like most other regional languages of France (Breton, West Flemish, Provençal and Alsatian), local dialects have been largely replaced by French since the advent of compulsory general education in the 19th and 20th centuries. However, there are a number of projects to preserve them (using a bilingual designation in the case of the German dialect and creating language classes for young children), and many older people continue to speak them.
Lorraine in France is a region in the northeast of the country bordering Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. In this blooming place, over which the sun never seems to set, radiant architecture and magnificent nature are surprisingly intertwined. The Vosges mountains, valleys, canals and lakes, with the "main" lake of Lorraine - Gerardme - are the most attractive for travelers in the warm season. For a long time, Lorraine was part of Germany, which affected the architectural orderliness of its cities, which at the same time were able to retain the French charm. In addition to rich spiritual food, the region is also interesting for its gastronomic traditions. It will not leave indifferent even the most sophisticated gourmets, because this is the birthplace of quiche "lauren" (Lorraine pie), pasta cakes and other delicacies.
Business card
History and modernity
Lorraine has been a disputed territory between France and Germany for many years. Over the course of its long history, its borders have changed more than once. In 843, according to the Treaty of Verdun, the state of the Franks was divided among the three grandsons of Charlemagne. One of them, Lothair, received lands from Frisia to Rome, which included the current Lorraine. In 870, it received the status of a duchy and until 1766 was part of the Holy Roman Empire. In the XII-XIII centuries, the duchy flourished under the rule of the Hohenstaufen dynasty. Then a period of long and harsh winters with poor harvests, famine and plague brought Lorraine into decline. In the Renaissance, a new round began in the development of the region, already under the control of the Habsburgs. From 1766 to 1781 Lorraine was part of France, and then Otto von Bismarck annexed it to Germany. Lorraine returned to France only after the First World War.
Such a turbulent history of the region is reflected in its today's life. Lorraine is extremely multinational, here you can hear Breton, Alsatian, Provencal and West Flemish dialects.
What to see, where to visit
The largest and most interesting cities to visit in Lorraine are Metz, which is its official administrative center, Nancy and Verdun.
Metz situated on east coast picturesque river Moselle. Its history goes back to the Roman period. Then Metz was a frontier fortification and was supposed to control security on trade routes. The main attractions of the city are the magnificent medieval cathedrals: St. Stephen IV c. and Saint-Étienne-de-Metz of the 13th century. Cathedral of St. Stephen is one of the largest cathedrals in France, it houses the richest collection of stained glass windows from different eras, including the work of the great Marc Chagall. In general, the city deserves to just walk around it, contemplating the ascetic German buildings on Will-Alleman ("German town"), the gardens of the Esplanade with a statue of Paul Verlaine, who was born in these parts, the Palace of Justice, small island Comedie, where stands the oldest theater in France.
The second capital of Lorraine is considered Nancy. The most interesting is the old part of the city, the winding streets of which repeat the outlines of the fortress walls that once towered here. In the center is Stanislav Square, of unprecedented beauty, named in memory of the Duke of Lorraine Stanislav Leshchinsky, the patron of sciences and arts. Nearby is the Town Hall building, the Museum of Fine Arts and the palace-residence of the governor of Lorraine of the XVIII century. On the other side of the palace is the picturesque garden-zoo La Pepinier, where pets walk right on the lawns. Lovers of fine arts will find the Ecole Museum with a magnificent collection of works of art and decor in the Art Nouveau style (Nancy is the birthplace of this trend).
Verdun - old City on the river Meuse. It was here that in 843 an agreement was concluded on the division of the heritage of Charlemagne, which gave rise to French, German and Italian statehood. The city was under the patronage of the Catholic Church, in the XI century. construction of the Verdun Cathedral began here. During World War I, the largest battle between the German and French armies took place in these places, as a result of which the historical center of the city, including the cathedral, was completely destroyed. In the city you can find many war memorials dedicated to the Battle of Verdun (1916), one of the most terrible and bloody in history. Now the Verdun Cathedral has been restored. Another piece of the Middle Ages is the Châtel gate, the only surviving fragment of the city walls. Beautiful episcopal palace of the 18th century. has now become the headquarters international center peace and protection of human rights, annual conferences and exhibitions are held here. 17th century citadel still belongs to the military department under the French Ministry of Defense, but the catacombs are open to the public.
Entertainment and active recreation
During the warm season, the cities of Lorraine host various music and theater festivals, such as the Renaissance Festival and Nancy Jazz Pulsations. Fairs are open on weekends.
After visiting the churches of the city, we will walk through the historical center of Nancy, which has changed a lot in the 18th century, but which still retains traces of a rich medieval past.
The heart of Nancy is Place Stanislas:
It was built according to the project of the architect Emmanuel Ere in 1751-1775 and is included in the list of objects world heritage UNESCO. Her customer was Duke Stanisław Leszczynski, former King of Poland and father-in-law of Louis XV. He received these lands for administration in 1737, in connection with the annexation of Lorraine to France. Stanislav was a competent ruler and philanthropist: he restored the duchy, devastated by wars, surrounded himself with artists and artists. It was he who introduced Lorraine to the art of the Baroque, which spread from here to the rest of France.
Residents of Nancy consider Place Stanislas the most beautiful square in the world. It is small - 106 by 124 meters. It connected two quarters, two parts of the city: Old city the Middle Ages and New town 16-17 centuries. The square arose on a wasteland next to the Arena Square (previously there was a pillory to which the convicts were tied). The fortifications of the New City and the Royal Gate formed a narrow passage - only it connected the two cities, and it was extremely inconvenient to move along it. Construction new square should have been regarded as the greatest favor of Louis XV, who gave the go-ahead for this.
The square was built in record time - in just three and a half years.
It is remarkable for its well-balanced proportions, its architecture and looks more like a metropolitan square than a provincial one. The buildings are made in the style of classicism with separate baroque and rocaille elements. All buildings were erected according to the project of Emmanuel Héré. The square is fenced with monumental wrought-iron gratings by bronzer Jean Lamur, decorated with lilies and the monograms of Louis XV. The entire southern side of the square is occupied by the town hall, where the municipality meets. It was built in the middle of the 18th century. The central pediment is decorated with images of the coats of arms of Stanislas and Nancy. The central clock is flanked by two allegorical statues depicting justice and caution. Under the clock is a bas-relief depicting a girl holding a thistle in her hands, a symbol of the city since the victory of the Dukes of Lorraine over Charles the Bold.
Next to the Town Hall is the National Opera theatre Lorraine, built in 1753. Initially, the building was a private mansion, then it belonged to the archbishop. After the Comedy Theater died in a fire, theater life moved here. In connection with these changes, the building was reconstructed - Italian theaters were taken as a model.
On the north side of the square is the Arch of Ere, built on the site of the former King's Gate. The arch was built by the architect Emmanuel Héré after the arch of Septimius Severus in Rome and is decorated with images of military trophies. The cornice is crowned with statues of Ceres, Hercules and Mars. In the central part there is a gilded lead medallion with the profile of Louis XV, supported by the figure of a winged genius and a female figure symbolizing Lorraine. The arch is decorated with marble plaques, one of which bears the inscription: "The horror of enemies, the hope of artisans, the glory and love of the people." We are talking about Louis XV, as can be seen from the adjacent marble bas-reliefs taken from the Royal Gate: they depict Mercury, Minerva and Apollo playing music (an allegorical image of Louis XV).
The square also houses the Museum of Fine Arts.
The square is decorated with two rococo fountains. One - with the image of Neptune, the second - Amphitrite. Their author is the sculptor Gubal.
Since 1983, no parking has been allowed on the square. By the 250th anniversary of the opening of the square, it was reconstructed: it was made pedestrian and paved, as in the time of Stanislav.
Palace of the Dukes of Lorraine (Palais des Ducs de Lorraine):
This is a Renaissance building. For a long time the palace was the residence of the Dukes of Lorraine, at the moment it is located Historical Museum, representing the main milestones in the history of the region, from the first settlements to the Napoleonic era.
After the defeat of Charles the Bold in the Battle of Nancy, the palace was abandoned, but under Ren II, in 1502, it was reconstructed. Work was completed in 1512 under Duke Antoine, whose equestrian statue adorns the porter's wing (carved from limestone by the sculptor de Lenoncourt). Leopold I wished to turn the palace into a new Louvre, which required significant alterations, in particular, a luxurious main staircase. The new Louvre did not work - the project met with financial difficulties, as the Thirty Years' War began. This unfinished palace Duke Stanislav Leshchinsky turned it into his residence. During her reign, he ordered the construction of a small park with an upper and lower parterre, designed by the court architect Clement Metezo. The project was implemented by the royal gardener Hector Aran. The sculptural decoration of the park was done by Simeon Drouet.
The palace survived different times: it was used both as a stable and as a barracks. In 1848, the local archaeological society received the right to open a museum here. The architect Emil Boswilwald, who worked for the commission for the protection of monuments, headed by Prosper Mérimée, restored the damaged parts of the building. The first collections exhibited in the museum perished in a fire in 1871. The thinned collection was replenished through the efforts of patrons.
The architecture of the building bears the imprint of not only the Renaissance style, but also the flaming Gothic (in particular, the courtyard gallery is designed in this style). On the ground floor of the building is the so-called Deer Gallery. This is a spacious room with a coffered ceiling, decorated with picturesque scenes, the author of which is considered to be Jacques de Bellange. The upper floors can be accessed via a spiral staircase hidden in the clock tower, also called the Paradise tower. The staircase is decorated with Lorraine symbols: thistles, crosses, a crown. It separates the Renaissance part of the building from the Classicist wing, which appeared under Leopold I.
Franciscan Church (Église Saint-François-des-Cordeliers):
The Franciscan church is located next to the ducal palace (it was connected to it by a covered gallery). All the Dukes of Lorraine are buried here. Previously, the church was a monastery, but little remains of the monastery, in one of its former buildings, in particular, there is the Museum of Lorraine.
The church was built under Ren II of Lorraine after the Battle of Nancy (end of the 15th century, consecrated in 1487). Rene II promised to erect a sanctuary in case of victory over Charles the Bold, and kept his promise.
This is a narrow and long building (73 by 9 meters), its interior exudes restrained grandeur. The only nave (the presence of only one nave was typical for Franciscan churches) has seven bays and windows on the south side. It is decorated with stained glass windows and frescoes. The frescoes are best preserved in one of the bays at the level of the choir. On the sides of the choir there are side chapels, in which the burial places of the Dukes of Lorraine are located. On the right side, on the approach to the altar, there is a polychrome tombstone of René II himself (there is a signature at the bottom), a beautiful monument of the Renaissance. Sculptor - Jacques Vautier. Above it are images of the Duke's patron saints: Saint Nicholas, Francis of Assisi and others. There was also a statue of René himself, destroyed during the Revolution: he froze in prayer, kneeling.
Nearby stands the tombstone of the wife of René II, Philippa de Guildre, in the form of a reclining figure, made of marbled limestone. The tombstone was made by the sculptor Ligier Richieu. Among other burials, the alleged tombstone of Hugh I de Vaudemont and Angeline of Burgundy stands out: a woman clasps her husband, who has returned after ten years of wandering, in her arms. The second, literary, name of this Romanesque sculpture is "Return of the Crusader". Many tombstones were destroyed (and the graves themselves were dug up) during the era of the Revolution.
In the altar there is a stone retablo from the beginning of the 16th century, with images of the evangelists, the Holy Trinity (God the Father holds a cross in his hands, symbolizing the torment of his son) and the Annunciation, above it is a huge stained glass rose, remade in the era of classicism. It depicts the coats of arms of the noble families of Lorraine.
To the left of the altar is the entrance to the tomb of the princes of Lorraine. It was built in 1609-1612 (reconstructed in 1818) and is a fine example of the Italianized Baroque style. Its dome is remarkable, decorated with a picturesque blende imitating a high coffered vault. Cenotaphs and personal belongings of all Lorraine princes, a surname related to the Habsburgs, are kept here. It is no coincidence that Marie Antoinette came here on her way to her future husband, Louis XVI. In 1951, Otto of Habsburg-Lorraine and Princess Regina of Saxony were married here (in 2001 they also celebrated their golden wedding here).
In the 19th century, traditional high-backed benches dating from the end of the 17th century were placed in the choir, decorated with images of putti playing music (playing the tambourine, flute and violin). Of the paintings that adorn the interior of the church, the “Virgin with a Rosary” by Jean de Voemburg stands out, as well as the image of Christ by Guido Reni.
The famous engraver of the 17th century, Jacques Callot, is also buried in the church (tombstone immediately at the entrance to the church).
Commander's Tower (Tour de la Commanderie Saint-Jean-du-Vieil-Aître):
This is the oldest building in the city. It was built at the suggestion of Duke Mathieu and dates from the early 12th century (1130-1140). Initially, it was a tower at the church, the building of which has not been preserved. The full name of the monument is deciphered as follows: the tower of the commandery of John the Baptist near the Old Cemetery (under the Merovingians there really was a cemetery here). Once it was a tower in an open field, there was only a small pond nearby. Gradually, buildings began to appear around, including a small chapel. But in the 19th century they were all destroyed. Only the tower has survived. It is a rare example of the Romanesque style in Nancy. Its walls are more than half a meter thick. It was she who was used as the "general headquarters" by Rene II during the hostilities against Charles the Bold. Here was the headquarters of the duke in the battle of Nancy. In the 18th century, a St. John's Fair or a cherry market was held nearby, at which troubadours also performed.
Gate Sainte-Catherine (Porte Sainte-Catherine):
The gates were built in 1761, they were part of the town planning plan of Duke Stanislav Leshchinsky. They are dedicated to the wife of Stanislav Ekaterina Opalinskaya. The architect was Richard Miquet, a follower of Emmanuel Héré, who built a nearby barracks with the same name. Because of the barracks, by the way, we had to change the location of the gate. Initially, they were 300 meters closer to Stanislav Square. However, when the barracks were built, they needed to be included in the city, from which they stood at a decent distance, and the gates were moved. The gate closes the central thoroughfare of the city, starting from the Stanislas gate and running along the west-east axis. On the sides of the main span of the gate, which serves as a passageway, Doric columns rise, supporting imposing porticos. They are decorated with the image of a ship sailing on the waves. This is the coat of arms of the Opalinsky family. The gate is crowned by four statues: Music, Architecture, Sculpture and Painting.
The inside of the gate is decorated with bas-reliefs representing commerce and industry in allegorical form.
Craff Gate (Porte de la Craffe):
This is fortification is located 650 meters north of Stanislav Square. It protected the approaches to Nancy. For a long time it had a different name, given because lepers lived nearby. The current name, given in the 15th century, has not yet been guessed. There are two more or less plausible versions. According to one of them, the word escraffe or grafe is encrypted in it, which in Old French meant a shell. It is believed that the capstone of the gate was once decorated with the image of a shell. According to the second version, it was a place for collecting scrap, which was then called by this word.
The building dates from the 14th century. It appeared due to the fact that the city was growing, and it was necessary to attach two surrounding villages, small and large Bourges. In 1463, two powerful round gate towers were built, covered with a conical roof. Their walls are over 3 meters thick. They withstood a single attack by Charles the Bold during the Battle of Nancy. The windows-loopholes on the towers are located so that it is convenient for archers to shoot. The towers are decorated with stone figurines of ravens - once shutters were held on them, closing the windows. Above the northern and southern entrances, ledges were made, from where the defenders poured hot resin and oil on the attackers. The northern entrance has not been preserved in its original form.
In the 17th century, a moat was made near the gate, filled with water, which was taken from the Bodonville stream.
The central part of the gate, especially from the side that was then facing the city, was remade in the 17th century in the then dominant classicism style. At the same time, the tower clock was added. However, two centuries later they were removed, and the façade itself was redesigned in the Neo-Gothic spirit. The decor of the facade was supplemented with images of the Virgin, the Lorraine cross and portraits of the Dukes of Lorraine. On both sides of the cross, two sculptural heads are distinguishable. For a long time it was believed that this was Rene II and Duke Antoine. However, modern scientists have come to the conclusion that they have nothing to do with the dukes, but are simply two grimacing faces.
A bell hung on the gate - it beat the time, it was used to announce a curfew and announce a death sentence (the inside of the gate with numerous rooms was used as a prison for a while). Under Rene II, a large open area was arranged outside the gate, on which artillery was to be placed, protecting the approaches to the gate. A door covered with a vault led here. It was decorated with the Annunciation scene, since René II believed that he defeated Charles the Bold thanks to the intercession of the Virgin Mary. Now the sculpture is in the Museum of Lorraine. Next to the niches in which the statues stood, they made a dedicatory inscription explaining their appearance. The coat of arms of Elise de Harocourt, the governor of Nancy, flaunts here, during which the gate was restored (1615).
Information partially taken from the site
Lorraine is located in the northeast of France, next to Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg. that is why it is often called the land of three frontiers (“Pays de Trois Frontières”). This region includes 4 departments: Meuse, Meurthe and Moselle, Moselle and Vosges. These departments were formed during the French Revolution in the territories of the province of Barrois, the three bishoprics (Metz, Verdun and Toul) and the historic Duchy of Lorraine. The capital of Lorraine is the city of Nancy. Most of the local population speaks French, unlike Alsace, where German, although the culinary preferences are strongly influenced by Germany. The climate is reminiscent of the south of England, with warm summer months and cool winters. The temperate climate of the region attracts tourists and potential property buyers.
The agricultural output of Lorraine accounts for only 2.8% of France's annual gross income. However, this does not mean that locals don't like to do agriculture. They grow oats and wheat on the clay and limestone soil of western Lorraine. Numerous limestone ridges in the departments of Meuse and Moselle served as natural barriers to frequent raids on Lorraine, while in other areas, fortresses and walls were built to secure the lowlands between the ridges.
There are many sloping pastures in Lorraine and therefore the production of dairy products is well established in the region. The famous local varieties "Gamay" are used, in particular, for the production of wine "Beaujolais". To the delight of connoisseurs, the local pale red wine "Cote de Toul" has a strong fruity or floral aroma. The region has a rich tradition of wine and beer production, although many local breweries have ceased operations. Local kitchen gained worldwide recognition thanks to such traditional dishes as "quiche lorraine" (smoked bacon, popular all over the world, is an invariable ingredient in the cuisine of Lorraine).
Due to the recession in the mining, textile and metallurgical industries, the unemployment rate has risen. Economic stability in the region is supported by high rates of development of the service sector.
With a population of approximately 2.5 million, Lorraine boasts a cultural wealth that goes far beyond military history. Despite the policy of the French government towards a "single language", the region is still mixed with various dialects and nationalities, which often cannot be attributed to either the French or the Germans.
The two main cities of Lorraine, Metz and Nancy, are characterized by a rich cultural heritage and beauty. However, the rest of this region, consisting of windswept farmland and industrial areas, does not contribute to the popularity of Lorraine among homeowners. This means that property prices and the cost of living are quite low. Anyone wishing to buy a property in a picturesque countryside can choose what they like for a very affordable price. Just a few hours drive from the Moselle, a property for sale in an ecologically clean area. This is perfect place both for buying a family hearth and for investing abroad. The new high-speed electric train "Te-Zhe-Ve" with the Paris-Strasbourg service makes this area even more accessible.
