Lorraine (region)

Lorraine (region)
Name	Lorraine
Native name	Lorraine
Settlement type	Region of France (former)
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	France
Seat	Metz
Area total km2	23428
Population total	2380000
Population as of	2012
Established title	Historic province
Established date	843
Abolished title	Merged into Grand Est
Abolished date	2016

Lorraine (region) Lorraine was a former administrative region in northeastern France centered on Metz and Nancy, historically contested by France and Germany and closely tied to the Holy Roman Empire, the Kingdom of France, the German Empire, and the French Third Republic. The region encompassed the départements of Moselle, Meurthe-et-Moselle, and Meuse, and bordered Luxembourg, Germany, and Belgium, featuring influences from Lotharingia, the Duchy of Lorraine, and the Franco-Prussian War. Lorraine's industrial heritage included the Lorraine iron ore fields, and its cultural legacy includes the Place Stanislas, the Metz Cathedral, and the culinary tradition around Quiche Lorraine.

Geography

Lorraine occupied part of the Paris Basin rim and the Vosges Mountains' northern foothills with river systems such as the Moselle (river), Meuse, and Saône? (note: primary rivers are Moselle (river) and Meuse), and lay on the border with the Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Luxembourg. The landscape combined the Lorraine plateau's rolling plains, the Ardennes-adjacent highlands, and mineral-rich basins like the Longwy basin and the Hauts-de-Meuse coalfield, while protected areas included the Parc naturel régional de Lorraine and the Parc naturel régional des Vosges du Nord. Major urban centers were Metz, Nancy, Thionville, Épinal, and Forbach.

History

Lorraine's roots trace to the medieval polity of Lotharingia created by the Treaty of Verdun (843), later evolving into the Duchy of Lorraine and contested in conflicts such as the Thirty Years' War and the War of the Spanish Succession. The region was annexed progressively by Kingdom of France in the 18th century under Louis XV and solidified after the Treaty of Vienna (1738), yet Moselle and parts of Lorraine were ceded to the German Empire after the Franco-Prussian War via the Treaty of Frankfurt (1871). Lorraine returned to France after World War I under the Treaty of Versailles (1919), was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II and liberated by forces including the United States Army and the Red Army in 1944–45. Postwar reconstruction led to France's nationalization efforts and the development of heavy industry tied to the Compagnie des forges et aciéries de la Marine et d'Homécourt and later European integration through institutions such as the European Coal and Steel Community.

Demographics

The population mix reflected historical migrations: German peoples and Frankish tribes in early medieval periods, later waves of miners and industrial workers from Poland, Italy, Belgium, and Portugal during the 19th and 20th centuries attracted by the Lorraine iron ore industry and the coal mining basin. Languages and dialects included French language, Lorraine Franconian, and Lorrain (dialect), with religious traditions dominated by Roman Catholicism and minority communities of Protestantism and Jewish communities especially in Metz and Nancy. Urbanization concentrated in the Metropolitan area of Nancy and the Metropolitan area of Metz–Metz-Thionville, while rural areas in Meuse experienced depopulation after the Battle of Verdun and wartime destruction.

Economy

Lorraine's economy was historically based on extractive industries—iron ore mining in the Minette deposit and coal mining—with major companies including the Houillères du bassin de Lorraine and steelmakers such as Usinor and predecessors of ArcelorMittal. The decline of heavy industry in the late 20th century prompted restructuring towards services, high-tech sites near Nancy University Hospital and Centre Pompidou-Metz, logistics hubs near Thionville and Metz–Nancy–Lorraine Airport, and cross-border commerce with Luxembourg and the Saarland aided by the European Single Market. Agriculture in the region produced Mirabelle plum orchards, viticulture in the Côtes de Toul, and food industries linked to products like Quiche Lorraine.

Culture and Heritage

Lorraine's cultural heritage spans medieval architecture such as the Metz Cathedral, the Baroque ensemble Place Stanislas in Nancy—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—and the fortified towns of Bitche and Sarrebourg. Musical and literary figures associated with the region include Gorbatchev? (note: region linked artists include Jeanne d'Arc's campaigns nearby), while institutions like the Musée de l'École de Nancy and the Centre Pompidou-Metz showcase Art Nouveau and contemporary art. Culinary traditions include Quiche Lorraine, Mirabelle plum desserts, and regional cheeses; festivals such as the Nancy Jazz Pulsations and historical commemorations of the Battle of Verdun attract tourists and scholars.

Administration and Politics

Before its 2016 merger into Grand Est, Lorraine comprised the départements of Moselle, Meurthe-et-Moselle, and Meuse with a regional council seated in Metz and regional prefectural representation from the Prefect of Lorraine. Political life featured contests between national parties including Socialist Party, Les Républicains, and National Rally with local political figures emerging from Nancy and Metz municipal leadership. Cross-border cooperation occurred through bodies like the Greater Region and transnational projects with SaarLorLux partners.

Transportation and Infrastructure

Lorraine's transport network included high-speed rail links on the LGV Est européenne connecting Paris and Strasbourg via Nancy and Metz, mainline services by SNCF and cross-border corridors to Luxembourg and Germany via Thionville and Metz–Saarbrücken railway. Major road arteries included sections of the A4 autoroute and the A31 autoroute, while airports such as Metz–Nancy–Lorraine Airport and proximity to Luxembourg Airport supported regional and international flights. Inland waterways on the Moselle (river) and Meuse facilitated freight traffic linked to the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal network and European logistics chains.

Category:Former regions of France