Nancy is a historic city associated with the figure of the Polish king Stanisław Leszczyński. After his abdication, he became the prince of Lorraine and contributed to the baroque expansion of the center of Nancy, which is now entered on the UNESCO list.
The city was founded in the 11th century and from its beginnings it was an important center of Lorraine. With time, it became the capital of the Duchy of Lorraine, which was finally incorporated into France only in the 18th century. In the years 1737-1766, Stanisław Leszczyński was the last prince of Lorraine. He received the title because he gave his daughter Maria to the then King of France, Louis XV. Although Leszczyński's rule in Poland is viewed rather negatively, he has made many positive changes in Nancy.
The baroque urban layout of the Nancy center, entered on the UNESCO list, comes from the times of Leszczyński. It consists of three adjacent squares, Stanisław Square, Place de la Carrière and Place d'Alliance. Along them are the most representative buildings of the city, including the Museum of Fine Arts in Nancy, Nancy City Hall, Lorraine National Opera, Paviloon Jacquet, Grand Hotel de la Reine and the Government Palace.
The center of Stanisław Square is decorated with the Stanisław Leszczyński Monument, and in its corners there are Neptune and Amphitrite Fountains. The Arc Héré, which commemorates the architect who created the complex, is located on the extension of this series of squares.
