André Maginot Square and its Surroundings

You’re now on Avenue Foch, one of the main arteries in the heart of Nancy. Right in front of you stands an elegant building that instantly catches the eye: the former headquarters of L’Est Républicain. Built in 1929 in the Art Deco style by architect Pierre Le Bourgeois, its façade is defined by sleek lines, bas-reliefs, and refined details that perfectly capture the spirit of the interwar years. For decades, it housed the offices of L’Est Républicain, a regional daily founded in 1889 that played a major role in the political and social life of eastern France. The newspaper remained here until 2012. Though the building has since found a new purpose, it’s still regarded as one of Nancy’s finest examples of Art Deco architecture. As you continue along Avenue Foch, you’ll soon reach Place André Maginot. This lively square, set between the train station and Rue Saint-Jean, takes its name from André Maginot, an early 20th-century French statesman. As Minister of War, he’s best remembered for initiating the construction of the Maginot Line in the 1930s—a vast network of fortifications built to defend France’s eastern border, especially against Germany and Luxembourg. The square itself was laid out during that same decade and has since become a vital crossroads linking the station with Nancy’s busy shopping district. Around it rise several notable buildings, including the former Magasins Réunis, another work by Pierre Le Bourgeois, now occupied by Fnac and Printemps. Its monumental silhouette and sculpted décor evoke the time when Nancy aspired to rival the great Parisian department stores. Nearby, you’ll also spot beautiful Art Nouveau façades that bear witness to the city’s rich architectural heritage at the turn of the 20th century. Place André Maginot, in many ways, reflects the essence of Nancy: a city where history, architectural innovation, and commercial energy all converge.