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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2012 16:01:58 GMT
Most residents of France know where Place Stanislas is, even if they have never seen it. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, but even before it was designated as such, it was repeatedly cited in various publications as being perhaps the most beautiful square in France, for which there is nevertheless quite a bit of competition. Anyway, Place Stanislas is in the city of Nancy in Lorraine. It was named in honour of the Duke of Lorraine, Stanislas Leszczyński. He was the deposed king of Poland and received the title from his son-in-law, Louis XV. The province of Lorraine was given to Stanislas in 1737, and he absolutely loved it, and the people of Lorraine loved him back -- basically because as a former king, he had very kingly projects and made war-ravaged Lorraine a showplace. He had just about all of Nancy rebuilt, but Place Stanislas (called Place Royale originally) was his masterpiece. It was designed by Emmanuel Héré. One of the big innovations of this project was to put it in the center of the city and group the administrative services and places of entertainment around it, contrary to what had been done in Paris at Place des Vosges, which was built out of the way and almost in secret. At the Revolution, it became Place du Peuple. During the Empire, it was Place Napoléon, and then during the Restauration it became Place Royale again.  It didn't become Place Stanislas until 1831. You can approach the square from any direction.  |
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2012 16:08:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2012 16:17:07 GMT
When I was little, streets ran through this square and it was used as a parking lot! The current version of the square was renovated over a 2-year period and inaugurated in 2005 in the presence of President Jacques Chirac of France, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder of Germany and Aleksander Kwaśniewski, President of Poland during a summit of the "Weimar Triangle." |
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Post by bjd on May 5, 2012 16:54:43 GMT
Thanks for this -- I had always heard that the square was the nicest thing to see in Nancy.
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Post by lagatta on May 5, 2012 17:06:09 GMT
Oh, thanks for visiting Nancy!
Very different in character from nearby Metz...
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2012 17:27:07 GMT
Just fantastic. And it looks just that much more magical taken at the end of the day/evening.
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2012 17:39:41 GMT
Oh, thanks for visiting Nancy! Very different in character from nearby Metz... Metz and Nancy vie for the title "capital of Lorraine," but of course Nancy wins, because it was never annexed by Germany and it retains a far more French flavour. I have always been a bit torn between the two because Metz was the closest city to my grandparents' village and I feel very much at home there. But my mother went to the University of Nancy (at a time when female university students were extremely rare) and she had so many stories about what a wonderful time she had there that I have always felt a bit guilty not to know the city better. |
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Post by lugg on May 10, 2012 5:02:28 GMT
What a lovely place, especially the twilight photos. intrigued by the sculpture of the chair . Does that have a specific significance ?
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2012 5:20:33 GMT
It is just to mark where the museum is.
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Post by nycgirl on May 10, 2012 18:00:15 GMT
It is a gorgeous plaza, especially at night. Love the ornate fountains and gates. I also like the modern chair sculpture. It makes a nice "old v. new" photo.
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2012 9:09:34 GMT
Returning some of these places to their full glory is a huge challenge. The 20th century pretty much turned every square in Europe into a car park.  |
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Post by bjd on May 11, 2012 11:18:10 GMT
When we arrived in Toulouse, the Place du Capitole had buses all over, plus cars, although it wasn't a parking lot. Now cars can still go along one side so they can enter the underground parking lot. But no more buses -- there is a subway station nearby called Capitole. I see that earlier it was indeed a parking lot!  After: www.flickr.com/photos/privatepigg/4372557187/ |
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Post by lola on May 11, 2012 23:58:27 GMT
Wow. Breathtaking, Kerouac. Also glad that civic properties can be taken back in a good direction.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2013 5:36:35 GMT
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Post by bjd on Aug 28, 2013 11:25:51 GMT
I wonder why Chirac didn't get called "Son Excellence"? He was just as excellent as the other two.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2013 11:55:23 GMT
I believe that "excellency" is a diplomatic term, so Chirac is not one in his own country.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2014 11:52:10 GMT
A high school student in Nancy used his personal drone to make an aerial video of his city. It keeps returning to Place Stanislas, because that will always be the city's pride and joy. Naturally he got in trouble with the authorities for "putting people's lives in danger" which is one of the most common accusations whenever you do anything without permission. However, the video has become so popular -- and obviously even more so with the people of Nancy -- that now the city has commissioned him to film a new video for their tourist board. It is going to be yet another local interpretation of Pharrell Williams' "Happy." Anyway, the aerial video is a lovely piece of work. |
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2014 20:45:57 GMT
The teenager who made this film was finally convicted in court -- a fine of 400 euros.
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Post by htmb on May 20, 2014 21:51:05 GMT
Beautifully done! Was that the filmmaker on the skateboard?
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2014 21:56:51 GMT
No, that was just a friend of his. Anyway, 400 euros is not bad, because his career is now assured.
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Post by lagatta on May 21, 2014 18:51:57 GMT
Yes, and he can also cloudfund the fine. That was splendid. I like the way his friend on the skateboard "humanized" the clip, and provided continuity.
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Post by kerouac2 on Dec 28, 2020 7:44:50 GMT
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Post by htmb on Dec 28, 2020 14:45:42 GMT
Very pretty! The nutcrackers on the side of the building and Saint Nicholas were my favorites of the lights.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 28, 2020 17:43:16 GMT
Just wonderful! Of course I adore the archway aquarium, but the swags of blue lights and the enormous Christmas tree certainly add to the festive atmosphere. Loved the stately music paired with the city decorations.
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Post by lugg on Dec 29, 2020 9:26:18 GMT
What a treat for you and us K2 -its lovely. The tree is indeed impressive and I loved the fish lanterns. The video really brought them to life. Did you notice it appears that Stanislas is inside a snow globe in the video due to the reflection of the lights ?
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