Free Art Nouveau Quest in Nancy — Hidden Garden Hunt

Discover where Art Nouveau was born — this free family treasure hunt follows 8 stops through Nancy's living laboratory of the style, 45 minutes, no booking needed, kids aged 7 and up.

Nancy is not just a city with Art Nouveau buildings. It is the city where the style was invented. In the early 1900s, a group of local craftsmen — glassmakers, ironworkers, cabinetmakers, ceramicists — formed the École de Nancy and rewrote the rules: a bank canopy, a pharmacy door, a shop window could be as much a work of art as any painting in a museum. The result is still here, hiding in plain sight. Poppy flowers forged in blue iron. A ginkgo leaf cast in bronze rings. A peacock feather pressed into dark ceramic. And behind the severe facade of one bank, a stained-glass ceiling of 500 hand-cut pieces that almost no one passing on the street knows exists.

This free scavenger hunt takes families from the Brasserie Excelsior near the station to the gilded grilles of Place Stanislas — past masterpieces that generations of passersby have never noticed, and through the full story of how Art Nouveau came to life in this one city.

How long does the quest take? Around 45–50 minutes at a relaxed pace, covering about 1 km. From what age? Designed for children aged 7 and up — questions require only observation, no prior knowledge. Do I need to book? No booking, no tickets. Download the app and start whenever you arrive.

Download the app to start this quest for free.