Place Simone Veil, Pedestrian square in Nancy, France
Place Simone Veil is a pedestrian square in the center of Nancy, right next to the Nancy-Ville train station. The space is open, with wide walkways, seating areas, planted sections, and pergolas that provide shade.
The square was created in 1859 on a former area called Saint-Jean, and from 1877 it bore the name of Adolphe Thiers, a key figure in French politics after the Franco-Prussian war. In 2018 it was renamed in honor of the first directly elected president of the European Parliament.
Place Simone Veil takes its name from a French politician who played a central role in building the European Union. Nearby, the Excelsior brewery building still shows its early 20th-century Art Nouveau style, with curved windows and decorative stonework that stand out against the rest of the square.
The square sits right in front of Nancy-Ville train station, making it easy to reach on foot even with luggage. An underground walkway connects the parking area to the station, which is handy in bad weather.
As part of an ongoing city project, the square now hosts mobile planting modules holding trees and shrubs that can be replanted elsewhere once they outgrow the space. Some of the chosen plants attract bees, helping to support biodiversity in the city center.
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