Drawing most of the crowds in Nancy is the city center, which contains architecture from various periods---from medieval times to the 18th century. Of the three squares here, the Place Stanislas, formerly known as the Place Royale and featuring majestic fountains and gold railings, is often claimed to be one of the most beautiful royal squares in Europe; nearby are the Place de la Carrière and the Place d'Alliance.
Nancy is almost as famous for its contributions to the development of French art as for its squares, and the term "art nouveau," referring to the French style which became popular in the late 19th century, is heavily associated with the city. Throughout the city's architecture there are numerous examples of the art nouveau style, including the Alliance Provinciale des Industries d'Art, while the movement is celebrated through the L'Ecole de Nancy Museum, which features funerary monuments and is housed in a park.
Nancy's range of museums include the Fine Arts museum, featuring art-glass works and paintings by noted Lorraine artists, as well as the Montet Botanical Gardens, where tourists can view 12,000 plants, including exotic specimens from around the world, in large hothouses.
In Nancy, tourists have the chance to sample the cuisine of the Lorraine region, including the famous quiche Lorraine---an egg quiche topped with ham and cheese---and macaroons, among other traditional dishes. But more exclusive to Nancy itself is the Daum factory, one of the major producers of Lorraine crystal in the region.
Since the listing of the Place Stanislas squares by the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983, Nancy's tourist industry has commemorated the city's history and beauty in different ways. These have included a series of art exhibitions, at the L'Ecole de Nancy in 1999, which showcased the School of Nancy movement in art nouveau, and an anniversary celebration of Place Stanislas in 2005, while in 2007, the region of Lorraine became joint Cultural Capital of Europe, along with Luxembourg and other French regions. Meanwhile, Nancy was awarded the European Blue Flag for environmental cleanliness in 2005.
