Grand Est

Around 1050 Count Gerard, Duke of Lorraine, built a castle here called Nanciacum, from which the town was to develop. In 1218 troops of Emperor Frederick II., fighting Theobald I, Count of Champagne, pillaged and looted the town. Rebuilt and surrounded by a wall, Nancy was granted city rights in 1265 and became the capital of the duchy in the following decades. In 1477, Charles the Bold of Burgundy failed in the Battle of Nancy in his attempt to seize the city - and died during the battle. Nancy belonged to the Duchy of Lorraine and thus to the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation until the 18th century. Finally, the Duchy of Lorraine came to the Kingdom of France in an exchange between the House of Habsburg and the French King in the 18th century. Louis XV awarded Lorraine in 1737 to the deposed Polish king, Stanislaus I Leszczyński, who ruled the duchy from Nancy as Duke of Lorraine. After his death, in 1766, Nancy and the duchy finally fell to the French crown. Since around 1900, Nancy is known for Art Nouveau. Emile Gallé initiated the "School of Nancy" a kind of alliance between extraordinary art and industrial production. Glasswork, ceramics, furniture, ironwork were designed - and houses like this facade, created by Pierre le Bourgeois in 1922.

Epinal, located on the Moselle river, celebrated the "millennium" of existence in 1983, but the year 983 is a bit mythical. It is known, that Dietrich I, the Bishop of Metz, had a castle and monastery built to protect the south of his holdings, which was being attacked by Burgundian marauders. At that time the city of Remiremont (about 30kms south) was Burgundian. The bishop donated to the monastery the relics of Saint Goëry. The relics have been the subject of numerous pilgrimages that have contributed to the economic development of the city. The church and the monastery were consecrated in honor of Saint Maurice and Saint Goëry. In 1444, the town of Épinal was still part of the dominion of the bishops of Metz, but the city officials took advantage of King Charles VII's visit to Nancy to offer him the city's submission in return for asking for his protection. The king promises never to alienate the city, but Louis XI. gives way to the Marshal of Burgundy in 1465-47 and eventually Épinal came under the tutelage of the Duke of Lorraine.

Epinal, located on the Moselle River, celebrated the "millennium" of existence in 1983, but the year 983 is a bit mythical. It is known, that Dietrich I, the Bishop of Metz, had a castle and monastery built to protect the south of his holdings, which was being attacked by Burgundian marauders. At that time the city of Remiremont (about 30kms south) was Burgundian. The bishop donated to the monastery the relics of Saint Goëry. The relics have been the subject of numerous pilgrimages that have contributed to the economic development of the city. The church and the monastery were consecrated in honor of Saint Maurice and Saint Goëry. The church of today was erected within the 12th and 13th century. The massive western tower dates to the 12th century. The portal is neo-Romanesque from 1843.

Thionville was already settled in earlier times by Germanic Allemannen. King Pepin the Short had an "imperial palace" here. From 835 the Synod of Thionville took place here. She reinstated Emperor Louis the Pious. From the 10th century the area was part of the Holy Roman Empire. Until 1462 it was owned by the House of Luxembourg, then by the Duke of Burgundy and from 1477 to 1643 it was Habsburg territory. A bridal shop

Lesmont is a small commune of just over 300 inhabitants in the Champagne Sèche region. Since the Middle Ages, fairs and markets have been held in several successive halls. Today's hall was built in 1855. The building consists of an open wooden structure with a slated roof. It is 27 m long, 15 m wide, and about 9 m high.

Lesmont is a small commune of just over 300 inhabitants in the Champagne Sèche region. Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens (St. Peter in Chains) was built in the 13th century but most of the building dates from the 16th century.

Lesmont is a small commune of just over 300 inhabitants in the Champagne Sèche region. Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens (St. Peter in Chains) was built in the 13th century but most of the building dates from the 16th century. The carved grafitto is probably only about 120 years old.

Villeneuve-au-Chemin is a small commune with less than 200 inhabitants. The Saint-Joseph-des-Anges chapel is impressive, formerly a place of pilgrimage.