L’hôtel d’Haussonville

Your legs gradually bring you to one of the most spectacular places. Just past the black gate, a little higher on the right, you’ll find one of the most beautiful residences in Nancy. We’ll let you take the last few steps to get there. Like the former palace of the Dukes of Lorraine, the Hôtel d’Haussonville is one of the rare buildings to have magnificently preserved its Renaissance character. It was built between 1528 and 1543, at the request of Jean d’Haussonville, the Seneschal of Lorraine. Just to clarify, a seneschal was a high-ranking officer responsible for overseeing the king’s household and carrying out military, financial, and judicial duties. In other words, Jean d’Haussonville wasn’t just anybody, and money was clearly not his primary concern. This elegant and refined private mansion is proof of that. While Jean was the commissioner, it was his son Balthazar, the governor of Nancy, who became the first occupant. He even made some new arrangements to the building in 1552. We can’t say exactly what those changes were, but looking at this charming courtyard, we can imagine they were a great success. Before your eyes, you see two superimposed stone galleries: the first in Gothic style and the second in Renaissance. Access to the hotel tower is through a magnificent carved wooden door with symmetrical decorations. And all the way to the right, you’ll spot a harmonious Neptune fountain. Over the years, the Hôtel d’Haussonville has been remodeled by its various owners, and it was listed as a historical monument in 1984. Since 2003, it has been a 4-star hotel, highly recommended in the region. If you’re planning a future stay in Nancy, this information might just come in handy.