The Heritage of Alsace & Lorraine
Summary
The border regions of Alsace and Lorraine occupy a distinctive place in the cultural and political history of Europe. For centuries these territories lay between the spheres of France and the German-speaking world, their shifting allegiances leaving a rich legacy in art, architecture, and urban form. Our tour explores that complex heritage beginning in Nancy, former capital of the Dukes of Lorraine. The city became a centre of the influential École de Nancy, whose artists and designers developed a distinctive regional expression of Art Nouveau. In Metz we encounter a city shaped by Roman origins and later imperial ambitions and, crossing into Alsace, we explore the enchanting cities of Strasbourg and Colmar. whose picturesque streets and canals embody the region’s Franco-German character.
What to Expect
- Admire the UNESCO-listed Place Stanislas and explore the stunning Art Nouveau works of the École de Nancy
- Discover the medieval charm of Metz and the breathtaking stained glass of Metz Cathedral
- Wander the Gothic splendour of Strasbourg Cathedral and the canals and half-timbered streets of La Petite France
- View Colmar’s Renaissance masterpiece the extraordinary Isenheim Altarpiece at the Unterlinden Museum
