Things to do in Grand Est, France: The Best Art Museums

An art museum with a sampling of regional work completed between the 11th and 17th centuries.

Vast collection of paintings and sculptures features the Retable d'Issenheim (Issenheim Altarpiece,) considered to be the most important piece of art in the museum.

The Museum of Fine Arts The Museum of Fine Arts or le Musée de Beaux-Arts was created in 1793 and is housed in one of the striking 18th century buildings in Place Stanislas. The museum's walls are a witness to the architectural and urban development of Nancy. The restoration of 15th to 17th century fortifications in the basement of the museum has firmed its link between the old and new towns or indeed between the former Dukedom of Lorraine and modern Nancy. Development became necessary due to the increasing size of the collections. This led to an important extension in 1999 entailing a complete restructure of the museum in order to cater for young and adult visitors alike. The auditorium, temporary exhibition galleries, children's workshops, book shop and the Friends of the Museum Association all provide a large variety of cultural events for your benefit. Collections On display are works representing every European school of art, spanning a period from the 14th to the 21st century. The museum's impressive painting collections include a series of works by Pérugin, Tintoretto, Caravaggio, Rubens, Delacroix, Monet, Modigliani, Dufy, Picasso, etc.... You are also assured to see the creations of both contemporary French and foreign artists. Visitors must not forget to admire works by famous Lorraine painters Claude le Lorrain, Emile Friant, Victor Pouvé, Etienne Cournault, Jules Bastien Lepage ... The collection also features sculptures by Rodin, Maillol, Zadkine, César, Dietman ... The Print Room exhibits periodically works taken from its rich collection of sketches, prints and engravings by artists such as Callot and Grandville. Finally, an original scenographic presentation of the Daum crystal collection allows visitors to explore 100 years of Nancy's well-known glasswork's production.

A jeweller of exceptional gifts and an immense master glassmaker, René Lalique is one of the great artists of Art Nouveau and Art Deco. For 100 years, Lalique creations have been produced at Wingen-sur-Moder inAlsace. It is in this region, with its great glassmaking tradition, that the Musée Lalique has opened, a place to celebrate the memory of the artist and his heirs, worthy of their genius and influence.Unique in Europe and deeply rooted in its history.

The impressive building that is now the European Beer Museum was a food store in the 17th century and a malt house in the 19th. The museum collection consists of more than 53,000 exhibits that recreate the world of brewing. They include the basic ingredients, the history of beer, production techniques and beer-related arts, crafts and traditions. Designed for the enjoyment of young and old alike, the visit includes a children’s path (with games, interactive displays and sounds) and is suitable for all. All the media are available in four languages (French, English, Dutch and German). At the end of the visit, step into the museum’s tavern for a chance to taste the beer in a happily convivial ambiance and perhaps take some home with you