Nancy

Art nouveau never caught on in much of France, but Alsace's social and historical particularities may explain why here the elegant, nature-inspired designs from the dawn of the 20th century sent its tendrils into the fabric of the city, especially townhouses in the northern neighborhoods. For context of the city's artists' take on the movement, spend some time at the Nancy School, and to see the smaller daily-life objects the movement so transformed visit the Musée d'Ecole de Nancy and the Musée des Beaux-Arts. Those who like a little medieval, renaissance, or baroque won't be disappointed, either, and the Musée Historique ...

Art nouveau never caught on in much of France, but Alsace's social and historical particularities may explain why here the elegant, nature-inspired designs from the dawn of the 20th century sent its tendrils into the fabric of the city, especially townhouses in the northern neighborhoods. For context of the city's artists' take on the movement, spend some time at the Nancy School, and to see the smaller daily-life objects the movement so transformed visit the Musée d'Ecole de Nancy and the Musée des Beaux-Arts. Those who like a little medieval, renaissance, or baroque won't be disappointed, either, and the Musée Historique Lorrain aims to explain the area's difficult past as well as showing the fruit of local cleverness. The applied arts tradition continues with two renowned crystal manufacturers, Daum and Baccarat, each with dizzying flagship shops (Daum even has an outlet).

About the Expert

Juliette Rogers is coauthor of the guidebooks Eating New England: A Food Lovers Guide to Eating Locally, Secret Providence and Newport, and two Thomas Cook guides on France.