The Government Palace

Opposite City Hall, the Government Palace also reflects the architectural style chosen in the 18th century by the former Polish king, Stanislas. Originally, the land was intended for a project known as the “New Louvre,” commissioned by Duke Leopold, who found his ducal palace “cramped, dark, and outdated.” However, while the work was being led by architect Germain Boffrand, who would later teach Emmanuel Héré, the project was suddenly halted. The Duke, devastated by the premature death of his son in 1723, never left his residence in Lunéville again and abandoned the ambitious Nancy project. After his death, no one took over the project, not even his wife, who was reportedly overwhelmed by financial debts. A decade passed before any changes were made. The turning point came with Stanislas, who, while enhancing Nancy, built a brand-new palace on this abandoned land. This is how the “New Intendance” came to be. Later, during the French Revolution, it became a café and then the residence of the prefect of Lorraine from 1753 to 1766. Soon after, the building was repurposed to house the military governor of the province. In the mid-2000s, the Government Palace was finally handed over to the city, which invested significantly in its renovation. Since 2013, visitors have been welcome to explore the building’s interior, where an extension of the Lorraine Museum has been set up.