Visiting Nancy with home hosting and teachers travel web

Nancy, France, Food markets and history!

When we received an email from teacherstravelweb members, inviting us to their beautiful city of Nancy for a few days, we couldn't resist! From Paris it is a fast 2 1/2 hour trip, the train travelling at 100m.p.h (160kmh) from the station called Gare de l'Est. Trains are on time, to the minute and are clean, comfortable and efficient.There are smoking, non smoking, cellphone, non cellphone carriages with tables or without, and you have the choice of first or second class.

Buy a French rail pass as we did here as it works out much cheaper.As you can see from the pictures the views out the train window are all typically French, as you travel past villages castles and fields of crops.

The train arrives at the station right in the centre of the city with taxis and buses close by.
After the family went to work and school the next day, armed with a bus timetable and a map we explored the area.This is what we discovered!

Le Marche Couvert is a covered market right in the heart of Nancy and it was our first sight of a French food market.

Our eyes feasted on whole plucked chickens and turkeys, still with their heads and legs attached to prove they were still fresh, baby pigeons, quail, rabbits, sausages, dozens of cheeses, ricotta, roquefort, huge blocks of parmesan, and foie gras.

Fresh gnocchi, ravioli, tortellini, shell fish, large fish, and 24 pates and terrines all lined up to buy by the slice. Olives in dozens of varieties and sizes, spices, quiche lorraines and cakes.

The market represents produce from all around France and Europe and it is a foodie's heaven! It's open from Tuesday to Saturday beside an outdoor market of clothing, bags, books, posters etc.

A short walk from the market will take you to Place Stanislaus, with the Stanislaus statue.

Stanislaus Leczinsky was the last Duke of Lorraine, ex king of Poland and Louis 14th's father-in-law.He embarked on a rebuilding programme in the 18th century and made Nancy what it is today.The square has golden gates that lead to the local government offices, and into the older part of the city.

The Cathedral in the Ville Vieille

Sophie outside her chocolate shop in Rue St Dizier.

Within the old area, you will find the Cathedral St Michel, an imposing sight from any angle. It was being restored while we were in Nancy, Dec 2001, so we could not go in, you may be luckier!

The Porte de la Craffe, at the end of Grande Rue is an old gateway to the city, which you can walk through. It was later used as a prison.

Tiny shops, boutiques, florists and cafes set among the cobblestoned alleyways make this a pleasant place to spend some time.The simple, beautifully designed store fronts are very French and chic, and make window shopping very special, especially if you are on a budget

Don't be tempted to use the public toilets in this area, though, they smelt badly the day we were there!

Porte de la Craffe

Stanislaus Square

Teacherstravelweb.com founder Mike Legg enjoys participating in an English lesson in Caroline's classroom in Nancy, December 2001.This is one of the joys of being home hosted in another culture, the unique opportunity to share in the day to day lives of other members.

Getting around Nancy as an English speaker only, means you need to have some necessary equipment with you.

The first is a map of Nancy. Our hosts gave us one, and there is also one in the guide book we used here.

The second essential is a bus timetable or the money for a taxi. We found it very difficult to find the right place to catch our bus back to our hosts, as the bus stops have no markings and you have to read the buses signwriting as they go past.

However, Nancy has wonderful people who will try to help you if you get lost, or need help.We were overwhelmed by the efforts made by strangers as we asked for directions in textbook French or with hand signals.If necessary use visual aids like the bus timetable, a bus ticket or a written address.

A part of France different to the rest, Lorraine is definitely worth the time to seek out and enjoy, even in Winter! We are going back, and that has to be the best recommendation!

Michelin the Green Guide Alsace-Lorraine-Champagne
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The Food Lover's Guide to France
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Frommers 2002 France
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Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary :
French-English,English-French
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