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Lorraine
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Explore Lorraine for Nancy’s grand architecture, Metz’s heritage, Verdun’s memorials, Vosges forests and distinctive northeastern French food.

Lorraine occupies France’s north-eastern frontier, a historic region now within Grand Est and stretching from the wooded Vosges in the east to the Meuse valley and the open landscapes around Verdun in the west. Its identity has been shaped by borders, dynasties, warfare and industry, but also by elegant urban planning, forested hills, thermal towns and a strong food culture. The region borders Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, making it an especially useful destination for travellers interested in the meeting points of French and Central European history.
Read more about Lorraine
Nancy is Lorraine’s most graceful urban expression. Its UNESCO-listed Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière and Place d’Alliance form an 18th-century ensemble commissioned under Stanislas Leszczynski, the former Polish king who became Duke of Lorraine. The city also preserves the flowing forms of the École de Nancy, an important centre of Art Nouveau associated with glass, furniture and decorative arts. To the north, Metz combines a large Gothic cathedral, medieval streets and military traces with contemporary cultural architecture and the Centre Pompidou-Metz. The two cities have distinct characters: Nancy is theatrical and decorative, while Metz is marked by Roman, episcopal and German-influenced layers.
Beyond the main cities, Lorraine becomes more spacious and rural. The Vosges offer beech and fir forests, high ridges, lakes and walking routes, with Gérardmer and the Route des Crêtes serving as well-known bases for outdoor travel. In the west, the Meuse landscape around Verdun is quieter but historically intense, with forts, memorials and former battlefield terrain. The village of Domrémy-la-Pucelle preserves the birthplace and early setting of Joan of Arc, one of France’s most enduring historical figures. Around Toul, vineyards produce Côtes de Toul wines, while the Meurthe-et-Moselle town of Baccarat remains associated with fine crystal.
Lorraine’s cuisine reflects both French and frontier influences. Quiche lorraine, pâté lorrain, mirabelle plums, macarons de Nancy, bergamot sweets and Munster Géromé cheese are among its best-known specialities. Local markets, farm shops and traditional restaurants give these products more context than souvenir packaging alone. The region’s industrial heritage is equally significant: iron and steel shaped the Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle landscapes, while textile production transformed many Vosges valleys. Lorraine is therefore best understood not as a single scenic tableau, but as a varied historical territory where ceremonial cities, working landscapes, military memory, forests and culinary traditions remain closely connected.

When is the best time to visit Lorraine?

Best: June–August · 23–24°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January540
February835
March1240
April1545
May2055
June (best)2360
July (best)2465
August (best)2460
September2055
October1445
November940
December635

Getting to and around Lorraine

How to get there

High-speed trains from Paris reach Nancy and Metz, while regional rail connects them with other towns in the Grand Est network. Lorraine TGV station, near Louvigny in Moselle, serves selected high-speed services but is outside both city centres and requires onward transport. Metz-Nancy-Lorraine Airport is within the region, although its services are limited and change over time. Luxembourg Airport, outside Lorraine, is a useful international gateway for northern Moselle, while Strasbourg and Paris can also serve longer-distance itineraries. Major motorways connect Lorraine with Paris, Luxembourg, Germany and Belgium.

Transportation

Nancy, Metz, Épinal and several other towns have local urban transport, and regional trains are practical for the main rail corridors. Buses and coaches reach smaller centres, but rural services can be less frequent, especially in the Meuse and Vosges. A car is valuable for Verdun’s dispersed battlefield sites, Domrémy-la-Pucelle, rural vineyards, industrial heritage and mountain areas. Cycling is well suited to selected canal and quiet-road routes, while walking is the best way to explore historic city centres. Check current regional transport information before travelling to remote attractions.

Top city travel guides in Lorraine

The cities of Lorraine, and the easiest places to base yourself.

Destinations in Lorraine

Resorts, valleys and scenic spots worth a trip of their own.

Best attractions in Lorraine

Lorraine’s attractions range from carefully planned urban spaces to forests, military landscapes and traditional craft centres. In Nancy, the Place Stanislas ensemble and the collections associated with the École de Nancy reveal two very different phases of artistic ambition. Metz offers the Centre Pompidou-Metz, the cathedral and a layered historic centre, while Lunéville is known for its château and former court associations. Verdun’s battlefield landscape includes forts, memorials and museums spread across wooded terrain, requiring more than a single short visit. In the Meuse, Domrémy-la-Pucelle provides historical context for Joan of Arc. The Vosges bring a different emphasis: hiking, cycling, lakes, ridges and winter activities around towns such as Gérardmer and La Bresse. Industrial heritage is visible in former iron and steel districts, textile valleys and the glass and crystal traditions of eastern Lorraine. Visitors can combine museums and architecture with vineyards around Toul, thermal heritage in selected spa towns, and quiet rural journeys through villages and forested uplands.

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Best landmarks in Lorraine

Nancy’s Place Stanislas is Lorraine’s defining civic landmark, framed by gilded ironwork and monumental buildings that express the ambitions of the 18th-century court. The connected Place de la Carrière and Place d’Alliance complete an unusually coherent urban composition. Metz Cathedral, known for its extensive stained glass and soaring Gothic structure, dominates the historic centre and reflects the city’s long ecclesiastical importance. In Verdun, the Ossuary of Douaumont, Fort Douaumont and the surrounding memorial landscape embody the scale and memory of the 1916 battle. The Château de Lunéville recalls Lorraine’s princely court, while the medieval fortifications and hilltop setting of Vaudémont evoke the region’s older defensive geography. The Basilica of Bois-Chenu near Domrémy-la-Pucelle commemorates Joan of Arc’s birthplace and later national importance. In the Vosges, the wooded ridges and high points of the Route des Crêtes function as natural landmarks, offering a clear sense of the mountain geography that distinguishes eastern Lorraine from the open Meuse and Moselle plains.

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Explore Lorraine on the map

Plan your trip on one map. See where the top cities, national parks and sights are, and book hotels and experiences in a few clicks.

Best restaurants in Lorraine

Lorraine’s food culture is associated with robust pastries, fruit, dairy products and dishes that suit its cool northeastern climate. Quiche lorraine is the best-known regional speciality, while pâté lorrain, tourtes and savoury tarts appear in traditional bakeries and restaurants. Mirabelle plums are central to the region’s late-summer produce, used in tarts, preserves and spirits; bergamot sweets are closely associated with Nancy, and macarons de Nancy provide another established confectionery tradition. Munster Géromé cheese comes from the Vosges area, where farm products and mountain-style cooking are prominent. Around Toul, Côtes de Toul wines accompany a modest but distinctive vineyard culture. Restaurants range from brasseries and cafés in Nancy and Metz to village inns, market stalls and contemporary kitchens using local ingredients. Rural markets are useful for discovering cheeses, charcuterie, fruit and bakery products, while traditional cafés offer a more everyday view of regional eating than formal dining alone.

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Best bars in Lorraine

Evening life in Lorraine is concentrated in Nancy and Metz, with smaller scenes in Épinal, Verdun and other university or market towns. Nancy has the broadest choice of cafés, wine bars, beer bars, live music spaces and late-night venues, while Metz combines historic-centre restaurants and bars with a more measured evening atmosphere. Traditional cafés and brasseries remain important across the region, and local breweries provide opportunities to explore beers alongside the area’s French and cross-border influences. In the Vosges and rural Meuse, evenings generally centre on restaurants, hotel bars, village cafés and occasional live music rather than a large club scene. Check current arrangements locally, especially outside the main cities and during winter, when some rural establishments operate on reduced schedules.

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Best nightclubs in Lorraine

Evening life in Lorraine is concentrated in Nancy and Metz, with smaller scenes in Épinal, Verdun and other university or market towns. Nancy has the broadest choice of cafés, wine bars, beer bars, live music spaces and late-night venues, while Metz combines historic-centre restaurants and bars with a more measured evening atmosphere. Traditional cafés and brasseries remain important across the region, and local breweries provide opportunities to explore beers alongside the area’s French and cross-border influences. In the Vosges and rural Meuse, evenings generally centre on restaurants, hotel bars, village cafés and occasional live music rather than a large club scene. Check current arrangements locally, especially outside the main cities and during winter, when some rural establishments operate on reduced schedules.

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Best shops in Lorraine

Shopping in Lorraine is strongest in the historic centres of Nancy and Metz, where established high streets, department stores, independent boutiques, bookshops, galleries and food shops occupy streets around the main squares and cathedral districts. Nancy is particularly associated with Art Nouveau-inspired design and the region’s bergamot sweets, while local delicatessens sell mirabelle products, regional cheeses, pâté and wines from around Toul. Metz provides a wider urban retail mix, with practical shopping alongside specialist food and craft outlets. In smaller towns, weekly markets and village food shops are more useful than large retail complexes for finding local produce. Baccarat and surrounding Meurthe-et-Moselle are linked to fine crystal, though specialist purchases should be made through established retailers. In the Vosges, look for textiles, woodwork and farm products, while rural markets across the region offer seasonal fruit, preserves and bakery goods. Retail hours can be more limited in small settlements, particularly outside market days.

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Lorraine essentials

Currency and Payment
Lorraine uses the euro, like the rest of France; the currency code is EUR. Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted in cities, hotels, supermarkets, museums and established restaurants. Carry some cash for small rural businesses, village markets, traditional cafés and occasional self-service facilities, particularly in the Vosges and Meuse. Bank opening arrangements and cash-machine availability are more limited in small settlements than in Nancy or Metz.
Safety
Lorraine is generally straightforward for visitors, but ordinary precautions remain sensible in busy stations, markets and city-centre areas. On the Vosges, weather can change quickly, paths may be slippery and mobile coverage can vary; use marked routes and check conditions before longer walks. Former battlefield areas contain uneven ground and some restricted zones, so follow signs and never handle military objects. In winter, mountain roads may be icy, while rural driving requires patience around tractors and narrow lanes.
Emergency Situations
The national emergency number 112 can be used throughout Lorraine and France for urgent assistance, including when the appropriate service is unclear. You can also call 15 for medical emergencies, 17 for police and 18 for fire and rescue. In the Vosges, give clear information about your route and location if requesting mountain assistance; around Verdun, remain on marked paths and report any suspected unexploded ordnance to the authorities without touching it. Travel insurance and a European Health Insurance Card, where applicable, are advisable.
Do's and Don'ts
Greet staff when entering a shop or restaurant, queue patiently and use a quiet voice in churches, memorials and museums. Ask before photographing people, private interiors or solemn commemorative ceremonies. At Verdun and other military sites, treat cemeteries and memorials as places of remembrance rather than casual backdrops. In the countryside, stay on marked paths, close gates and respect private land. Tipping is not compulsory in France, though rounding up or leaving a modest amount for good service is appreciated.
Local Tips
Use Nancy for Art Nouveau and 18th-century architecture, Metz for Roman, medieval and imperial layers, and Verdun for a concentrated introduction to First World War memory. The Vosges are best experienced with time for short walks, lakes and forest roads rather than as a quick transit stop. Local food markets are useful places to find mirabelles, regional cheeses and pâté lorrain, while the area around Toul offers a more vineyard-focused view of Lorraine. Cross-border excursions may be practical, but remember that Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany are outside the region.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloSalut[sah-loo]
GoodbyeAu revoir[oh ruh-vwahr]
YesOui[wee]
NoNon[noh]
Please/You’re welcomeS'il vous plaît[seel voo pleh]
Thank youMerci[mehr-see]
Excuse me/SorryExcusez-moi[ex-kew-zay mwah]
How are you?Comment ça va?[koh-mohn sah vah]
Fine. And you?Bien. Et vous?[byehn. eh voo]
Do you speak English?Parlez-vous anglais?[par-lay voo ahn-glay]
I don't understandJe ne comprends pas[zhuh nuh kom-pron pah]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseJe voudrais voir le menu, s'il vous plaît[zhuh voo-dray vwar luh muh-nu, seel voo pleh]
I don't eat meatJe ne mange pas de viande[zhuh nuh mahnj pah duh vyahnd]
Cheers!Santé![sahn-tay]
I would like to pay, pleaseJe voudrais payer, s'il vous plaît[zhuh voo-dray pay-ay, seel voo pleh]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Au secours![oh suh-koor]
Go away!Allez-vous en![ah-lay voo ahn]
Call the Police!Appelez la police![ah-peh-lay lah poh-lees]
Call a doctor!Appelez un médecin![ah-peh-lay uhn may-deh-sin]
I'm lostJe suis perdu[zhuh swee pair-doo]
I'm illJe suis malade[zhuh swee mah-lahd]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Je voudrais acheter...[zhuh voo-dray ah-sheh-tay]
I'm just lookingJe regarde juste[zhuh ruh-gard zhoost]
How much is it?C'est combien?[seh kohm-byen]
That's too expensiveC'est trop cher[seh troh shair]
Can you lower the price?Pouvez-vous baisser le prix?[poo-vay voo beh-say luh pree]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Quelle heure est-il?[kel uhr eh-teel]
It's one o'clockIl est une heure[eel eh ewn uhr]
Half past (10)Dix heures et demie[dees uhr eh deh-mee]
MorningMatin[mah-tahn]
AfternoonAprès-midi[ah-pray mee-dee]
EveningSoir[swahr]
YesterdayHier[ee-ehr]
TodayAujourd'hui[oh-zhoor-dwee]
TomorrowDemain[duh-mahn]
1Un[uhn]
2Deux[duh]
3Trois[trwah]
4Quatre[katr]
5Cinq[sank]
6Six[sees]
7Sept[seht]
8Huit[weet]
9Neuf[nuhf]
10Dix[dees]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Où est un/une...?[oo eh uhn/oon]
What's the address?Quelle est l'adresse?[kel eh luh-dress]
Can you show me (on the map)?Pouvez-vous me montrer (sur la carte)?[poo-vay voo muh mohn-tray (sur lah kart)]
When's the next (bus)?Quand est le prochain (bus)?[kahn eh luh pro-shan (boos)]
A ticket (to ....)Un billet (pour ....)[uhn bee-yay (poor ....)]

History of Lorraine

Roman Divodurum and the Ancient Frontier

The area became an important part of Roman Gaul. Divodurum, the settlement that developed into modern Metz, stood at a significant crossroads and was associated with the Mediomatrici, while roads connected the Moselle valley with other centres of the empire. Roman urban infrastructure, trade and administration left an enduring foundation for later settlement. Archaeological remains and the region’s strategic position help explain why Metz and the surrounding Moselle corridor remained important long after Roman authority disappeared.

The Medieval Duchy of Lorraine

During the medieval period, Lorraine emerged as a duchy situated between powerful French and German-speaking political worlds. Its rulers competed and negotiated with neighbouring kingdoms, bishops and imperial authorities, while towns such as Nancy developed as centres of administration and court life. Fortifications, churches and monastic institutions shaped the landscape. The duchy’s position on a political frontier brought both opportunity and insecurity, establishing a pattern in which Lorraine’s identity was influenced by several cultural and linguistic spheres.

The Battle of Nancy and the Rise of the Lorraine Dynasty

The Battle of Nancy in 1477 was a decisive event in European dynastic history. Charles the Bold of Burgundy was defeated and killed outside Nancy by forces supporting René II, Duke of Lorraine, whose victory preserved the duchy’s independence from Burgundian expansion. The event strengthened the prestige of the House of Lorraine, which later produced influential figures in European politics. Nancy’s public spaces, monuments and historical collections continue to recall this formative struggle over the duchy’s survival.

Stanislas and the Eighteenth-Century Transformation

In 1737, Stanislas Leszczynski, the former king of Poland and father-in-law of Louis XV, became Duke of Lorraine. Under his rule Nancy acquired its celebrated 18th-century ensemble of squares, designed to connect the medieval old town with the newer city. Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière and Place d’Alliance express the ideals of ceremonial urban planning and remain the region’s most recognisable architectural achievement. After Stanislas’s death in 1766, Lorraine was incorporated into the Kingdom of France.

Iron, Coal and Industrial Lorraine

From the 19th century, iron ore, coal, railways and manufacturing transformed northern and eastern Lorraine. The Moselle and Meurthe-et-Moselle areas developed major iron and steel works, while the Vosges became associated with textiles and other valley industries. Industrial towns, workers’ housing, rail corridors and factory remains still reveal this economic history. The later decline of heavy industry brought substantial social and environmental change, but museums and preserved sites continue to interpret the labour, technology and migration that shaped modern Lorraine.

The Franco-Prussian War and the Annexation of 1871

The defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War led to the annexation of much of Alsace and the north-eastern part of Lorraine, including the area around Metz, into the German Empire. The boundary created a lasting political and cultural division within the historic region. Metz acquired new German imperial buildings, while language, citizenship and migration became contentious issues. After the First World War, the annexed territory returned to France, but its mixed architectural and linguistic inheritance remains visible, particularly in Moselle.

Verdun and the First World War

The Battle of Verdun in 1916 became one of the defining and most destructive confrontations of the First World War. Fighting extended across a wide zone of forts, villages and woodland east and north of Verdun, with enormous losses on both sides. The battlefield is now marked by memorials, cemeteries, forts and the Ossuary of Douaumont. Verdun’s significance is not limited to military history: it has become a place of remembrance, reconciliation and study of the human consequences of industrialised warfare.

Occupation, Liberation and Post-war Change

Lorraine again became a major strategic zone during the Second World War. Moselle was incorporated into Nazi Germany, while other parts of the region experienced occupation, resistance and military disruption. The liberation of 1944–45 was followed by reconstruction and the reorganisation of industry. In the later 20th century, the decline of coal mining, steel and textiles altered the region’s economy, encouraging new investment in services, heritage, technology, culture and cross-border links with Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany.

Lorraine in Photos

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Neighbouring regions of Lorraine

The closest regions to Lorraine, if you have time for more than one.

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Lorraine, France

Discover Lorraine with Evendo, a 100% free app-based travel guide covering attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more. Make the most of your trip with local tips and easy bookings.

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Explore Lorraine, France like a local with Evendo! From stunning landmarks to hidden gems, our free app provides everything you need for an unforgettable adventure.

  • History of Lorraine and travel essentials
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Embark on a memorable journey to Lorraine, France with Evendo, your all-in-one travel guide app. Whether you're planning to marvel at the architectural beauty of Place Stanislas in Nancy or delve into the rich history at the Metz Cathedral, Evendo has got you covered. Our app provides detailed information on all major attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities in Lorraine.

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