Palais des ducs de Lorraine – Musée lorrain

About the museum

The project for a museum of Lorraine history emerged in the first half of the 19th century among a few scholars, who founded the Société d’Archéologie lorraine in 1848. The museum opened on September 10, 1850 in the lower gallery of the former ducal palace and was extended in 1862 with the Galerie des Cerfs. A fire in 1871 ravaged the site; after restoration, the museum reopened in 1875.

In the 20th century the institution opened to decorative arts and popular traditions, then underwent a major extension in the 1930s, with the annexation of a former school and the Cordeliers church. The museum thus grew from 7 to 31 galleries. An archaeology section was set up in the 1950s, and the popular arts moved in 1981 to the former Cordeliers convent. The collections, of more than 155,000 items, cover all of Lorraine and touch on many fields.

A renovation and extension project, begun in 2000, led to the closure of the ducal palace to the public in April 2018. Works started in November 2024; then in 2025 the City of Nancy decided to reorient the project towards a more modest version focused on the existing buildings. During the works, only the Cordeliers church remains open. Built at the end of the 15th century, it is the necropolis of the ducal house of Lorraine. A route there presents the history of the duchies of Lorraine and Bar, with the model of Nancy from 1611.

Highlights

• Cordeliers church, necropolis of the dukes of Lorraine
• Recumbent effigy of Philippe de Gueldre by Ligier Richier
• Tomb niche (enfeu) of Duke René II
• Model of Nancy from 1611 with digital projections
• Round chapel of the dukes, built between 1609 and 1612

Permanent exhibition

• Nancy, capitale des ducs de Lorraine – In the Cordeliers church, a route of paintings, sculptures, stained glass and art objects traces five centuries of Lorraine history; it also includes the model of Nancy from 1611 with digital projections.

Founded

1848

Operated by

Ville de Nancy

Director

Francine Roze

Visitors per year

approx. 101,952

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission to the Cordeliers church, except for guided tours and workshops.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The Cordeliers church is accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. The public services of the Nancy museums offer tailored support for audiences from the social or disability sectors; contact 03 83 85 30 01 (Monday to Friday, 9:00–12:30).

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

On foot, the museum is 5 minutes from Place Stanislas, in the Ville Vieille.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit