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| Lothringen (Lorraine) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Lothringen (Lorraine) |
| Native name | Lorraine |
| Settlement type | Region |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | France |
| Seat | Nancy |
| Area total km2 | 23432 |
| Population total | 2300000 |
| Population as of | 2019 |
Lothringen (Lorraine) is a historical and cultural region in northeastern France centered on the city of Nancy and the river Moselle, long contested between French and German polities. Situated between the Ardennes, Alsace, Champagne and the Saarland, Lothringen has been shaped by figures such as Charlemagne, Otto I, Napoleon III and events including the Treaty of Verdun, the Franco-Prussian War and both World Wars. The region's landscape, built heritage and industrial legacy link places like Metz, Toul, Thionville and Épinal to institutions such as the University of Lorraine and to transnational infrastructures including the Saar-Lor-Lux cross-border initiatives.
The name echoes the legacy of Lothair I and Lothair II, Carolingian rulers whose domains after the Treaty of Verdun and subsequent partitions gave rise to the medieval duchy associated with the name. Later use of the term appears in documents of the Holy Roman Empire and in maps produced during the reigns of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. The German form recalls administrative usage under the German Empire (1871–1918) and the Weimar Republic, while French-language sources from the era of Louis XIV and the Treaty of Westphalia incorporated francophone variants.
Lothringen occupies the watershed of the Moselle and includes the Meurthe-et-Moselle, Moselle, Meuse and Vosges areas. Subregions include the Pays Messin around Metz, the Pays Nancéien around Nancy, the Terres de Lorraine and the Lorraine Regional Natural Park encompassing parts of the Vosges Mountains and the Lorraine plateau. Bordering regions and entities comprise Alsace, Champagne-Ardenne, Franche-Comté, Saarland and Luxembourg, with major transport corridors such as the A4 and rail links to Paris and Strasbourg.
Early habitation is attested by La Tène culture and Gallo-Roman sites; the region became a locus of power in the Merovingian and Carolingian eras with ties to Metz and Reims. After the Treaty of Verdun (843) it formed part of Middle Francia and later the Duchy of Lorraine within the Holy Roman Empire. The region featured in the conflicts of Louis XIV and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and was partly annexed by France through the Treaty of Westphalia and subsequent diplomacy under Nicolas-François Dupré de Saint-Maur. In the 19th century industrialization linked Lorraine to the Industrial Revolution via coalfields and steelworks in places like Hayange and Consolat. Annexation by the German Empire (1871–1918) after the Franco-Prussian War reshaped demographics and law until the aftermath of World War I and the Treaty of Versailles (1919), when much of Lorraine returned to France. The region endured occupation during World War II and postwar reconstruction led to new institutions such as the University of Lorraine and economic realignments tied to the European Coal and Steel Community and later European Union initiatives.
Population centres include Nancy, Metz, Thionville, Épinal and Bar-le-Duc. Historically the area was multilingual with speakers of French, German dialects, Lorrain (Langue d'oïl) and Lorraine Franconian (a West Central German dialect). Religious institutions such as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metz and Protestant communities influenced cultural life alongside Jewish communities linked to Metz Jewish history and migration from Belgium and Luxembourg. Twentieth-century industrial labor movements connected to organizations like the CGT and transnational migration altered urban demographics and linguistic usage, producing a strong francophone majority by the late 20th century.
Lothringen's economy historically depended on iron ore mining in the Minette basin and steel production at plants such as those operated by ArcelorMittal predecessors and the Société des Forges de Lorraine; coalfields linked it to the Nord-Pas-de-Calais mining basin and the Saarland. Postindustrial transition fostered diversification into services, higher education with the University of Lorraine, research partnerships with institutions like the CNRS and cross-border commerce in the Greater Region (SaarLorLux). Transport infrastructure includes the A31 autoroute, the LGV Est européenne, river navigation on the Moselle linked to the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, and airports at Metz–Nancy–Lorraine Airport and regional rail nodes serving Paris-Est and Strasbourg-Ville. Energy initiatives have involved collaborations with firms such as EDF and participation in European energy networks.
Architectural heritage spans Roman sites, medieval cathedrals like Metz Cathedral and baroque ensembles in Nancy exemplified by the Place Stanislas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site adjacent to influence from Stanisław Leszczyński, former Duke of Lorraine. Museums include the Musée de l'École de Nancy, Centre Pompidou-Metz and military history collections related to the Maginot Line and battles such as Battle of Sedan (1870). Culinary traditions feature quiche lorraine, regional cheeses, and influences from Alsace and Germany. Festivals, theatrical institutions, and orchestras like the Orchestre symphonique et lyrique de Nancy reflect ties to composers and artists who worked in Lorraine, while conservation efforts engage organizations such as Parc naturel régional de Lorraine.
Administratively, the modern territories correspond to departments including Meurthe-et-Moselle, Moselle, Meuse and Vosges within the French Regional Council system and national representation to the National Assembly. Cross-border governance involves cooperative structures in the Greater Region (SaarLorLux) and European programs under the European Union. Historic sovereignty disputes involved dynastic claims by houses such as the House of Lorraine, intervention by dynasts like Stanisław Leszczyński and treaties including the Treaty of Frankfurt (1871) and Treaty of Versailles (1919), which have left a legacy reflected in contemporary regional identity and institutional arrangements.
Category:Regions of France Category:History of Lorraine Category:Geography of Lorraine