Situated on the banks of the River Meurthe the fine City of Metz just 48km/30m south of Metz is known for its open spaces and its late Baroque and Art-Nouveau architecture which all contributes to it being a very pleasant and interesting place to spend time.

It is thought that the site was settled about 800 by Gauls who called it Nanciaco but the first official mention was when the Duke of Lorraine created Nanciacum in the mid 11th century. Despite being destroyed by fire in 1228, the town was soon given a set of defensive walls but the only surviving section is the Porte de la Graffe.

Nancy grew in importance as the capital of the Dukedom of Lorraine and due to succession issues the vacant Duchy was gifted to the exiled Polish king Stanislaus I who happened to be the father-in-law of the French king Louis XV.