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History of SAINT-NICOLAS-DE-PORT
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Saint-Nicolas-de-Port
was formerly called 'Port, because of the river traffic which
remained along the Meurthe, and which connected the city with
Varangéville's village.
From the
XI-th century, the pilgrims stream, always more numerous,
to honor the relic of Holy Nicolas, returned by Bari, city
situated in current Italy. Besides, the city does not stop
developing until XV-th century and becomes an inescapable
stage for storekeepers and pilgrims. In this time his brilliance
is much superior to that of Nancy: Saint-Nicolas-de-Port counts
up to 10 000 inhabitants and the city joins in an important
network of pilgrimages, in the same way as Aix the Chapel,
Armistices, Vézelay, Rome or Santiago de Compostela.
In 1477, René II, Duke de Lorraine, hunts the Burgundians
de Saint-Nicolas-de-Port, then leave to free Nancy. It is
during this battle that Charles the Bold, Duke de Bourgogne,
dies. The construction of a building, capable of welcoming
a big number of pilgrims, is decided: Simon Moycet is the
priest builder from 1492 and, facades and tours are finished
by 1560.
Regrettably,
the war of 30 years makes lose of its importance for the burned-out
city several times, although the pilgrimages remain. Also,
the XVI-th century is marked by numerous conflicts.
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Saint-Nicolas-de-Port puts then more than 20 years reconstructing.
At the end of the XVII-th century, pilgrimages and trading
fairs are much less important than in the past. The revolution
arises then: convents are sold as national possessions and
one changes the name of all the streets. These last ones should
wait for 1807 to find their former namings. Saint-Nicolas-de-Port
knew of important visitors: Louis XIV, Stanislas Leszczynski,
Catherine Opalinska, Louis XV and Marie leszczinska, Ladies
Adélaïde and Victoire, Napoleon 1-st, Charles
X, Louis Philippe. Closer of us, Saint-Nicolas-de-Port welcomed
Madam Giscard d' Estaing, the Queen mother Elisabeth of England
and, on May 27, 1996 the Cardinal Lustiger
Today,
the city counts 7800 inhabitants and has a big commercial,
craft activity and of services. Situated in 10 minutes, by
the highway, by Nancy, it keeps however an active life and
is not a town satellite. Saint-Nicolas-de-Port's vocation
is essentially tourist, in opposition with the industrial
nearby municipalities. Both museums: the French Museum of
the Brewery created in 1988 and the Museum of the Cinema which
opened its doors in 1998, as well as the Basilica, offer alive
visits grace, in particular , to a volunteers' important network.
Rooms open, collections are renewed, animations are proposed
because it is important, as said it Auguste Rodin: that '
an art which has of the life does not reproduce the past,
but that it continues him
Maison
du Tourisme
13bis, rue Anatole France
54210 Saint-Nicolas-de-Port
Tel : 03.83.48.58.75 - Fax : 03.83.46.80.01
maison-tourisme@saintnicolasdeport.com
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