In the 18th century, the king without a kingdom, Stanislas Leszczynski, became Duke of Lorraine after offering his daughter in marriage to Louis XV. He remodelled Nancy, creating superb architectural complexes including Stanislas Square, the most famous example.

The city is nonetheless not limited to this century, the Middle Ages and Renaissance also left their mark (Cordeliers church, Nancy Cathedral, Duke’s Palace), while the 19th century was the era of the Nancy School, devoted to Art Nouveau, which still continues today.