Nancy

Nancy, a beautiful French town, capital of the department of Meurthe-et-Moselle, lies on the left bank of the river Meurthe, at the foot of wooded and vine-clad hills, 220 miles by rail E. of Paris and 94 W. of Strasburg. It comprises, besides several suburbs, the old and new towns (the former with narrow irregular streets, the latter open and handsome). It contains many fine squares and imposing edifices, and owes much of its architectural adornment to Stanislas Leszczinski, who, after abdicating the crown of Poland in 1735, continued to reside here as Duke of Lorraine till his death in 1766. His statue (1831) stands in the Place Stanislas, the principal square, which is surrounded by important public buildings, as the hôtel-de-ville, the bishop's palace, and the theatre. Other noteworthy features are the cathedral (1742); the churches Des Cordeliers and Notre Dame de Bon Secours (1738), both with interesting monuments; St Epvre (1875); the 16th-century ducal palace, with the Lorraine museum; statues of General Dronot (1853) and Thiers (1879); and half a dozen gates, looking more like triumphal arches. The institutions include a university with four faculties, a lyceum, and a library of 40,000 volumes. It has been the main centre of research into the therapeutic value of hypnotism. Nancy, which has grown much in importance since the German annexation of Alsace-Lorraine, has manufactures of cotton and woollen goods, artificial flowers, iron, tobacco, &c.; but its staple industry is embroidery on cambric and muslin. Pop. (1872) 52,565; (1891) 87,092. Nancy, dating from the 12th century, was the capital of the duchy of Lorraine (q.v.). It was the scene of the death of Charles the Bold (1477), and the birthplace of Calot and Claude Lorraine. See works by Cayon (1846), Lepage (1866), and Courbe (1886).