precious-postcards

Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière and Place d'Alliance in Nancy

Nancy, the temporary residence of a king without a kingdom – Stanislas Leszczynski, later to become Duke of Lorraine – is paradoxically the oldest and most typical example of a modern capital where an enlightened monarch proved to be sensitive to the needs of the public. Built between 1752 and 1756 by a brilliant team led by the architect Héré, this was a carefully conceived project that succeeded in creating a capital that not only enhanced the sovereign's prestige but was also functional.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/229

Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière, and Place d'Alliance in Nancy are 18th century works of urban planning. The three squares and the surrounding monuments sprouted from the brain of the Polish king and duke of Lorraine, Stanislaw Leszczynsk. The responsible architect was Emmanuel Héré. He was assisted by the iron worker Jean Lamour and the sculptors Guibal and Cyfflé. The project was carried out from 1752 to 1756. The squares are embellished with statues, fountains and a triumphal arch. Characteristic are the gilded gates and ornaments.

The squares hold a public function as well: the Opera, the Town Hall, Courts of Law, a library and a botanical garden can be accessed from here. The monuments link the medieval old town of Nancy and the new town built under Charles III in the 17th century. 

http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/nancy.html