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LAST UPDATED: 9 February 2024

Many visitors wonder what souvenirs from Lorraine to bring home or for their family and friends. You’ll be spoilt for choice during your visit, from Longwy enamels to Meisenthal Christmas baubles. Not forgetting the region’s many local products (Munster cheese, mirabelle plum, bergamot, madeleines, Moselle wines…). To help you decide, I’ve compiled a shortlist of 15 souvenirs from Lorraine. If you have more ideas, please leave a comment below!

Nancy in Lorraine with Alsatians in costume (Hansi). Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Nancy in Lorraine with Alsatians in costume (Hansi). Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Souvenirs from Lorraine in the crafts section

Lorraine has many handicrafts, which help reinforce the image of a region proud of its traditions.

Longwy enamel

Longwy is associated with Lorraine’s industrial history on the border with Luxembourg and Belgium. But the border town reveals itself in a different light with its UNESCO-listed Vauban ramparts and its Manufacture des Emaux de Longwy, founded in 1798. From the outset, the manufactory created magnificent pieces commissioned by the elite.

Enamels bearing the effigy of Saint-Nicolas © French Moments
Enamels bearing the effigy of Saint-Nicolas

Today, the Manufacture de Longwy works with famous contemporary designers to create new designs for its fascinating sphere vases and other ceramic works. These rare, limited-edition collector’s pieces are art in their own right.

Learn more about Longwy enamels on our French blog.

Glass Christmas baubles from Meisenthal

Since 1998, the Centre International d’Art Verrier (CIAV) in Meisenthal has been reviving the tradition of the glass Christmas bauble!

The artichoke - 2018 edition of the Meisenthal bauble © French Moments
The artichoke – 2018 edition of the Meisenthal bauble

The CIAV has created around twenty models of glass baubles in two collections:
– The traditional line, baubles directly inspired by old models, and
– The contemporary line, created by contemporary designers and artists.

During the Christmas period, these glass baubles are such a hit at Christmas markets and tourist offices in Alsace-Lorraine that we often come close to running out of stock!

The Daum collections

Paris, New York, Hong Kong, Singapore and… Nancy! That’s the list of boutiques owned by the prestigious Daum company. The world-famous Nancy crystal maker offers a wide range of top-of-the-range gift ideas in its Place Stanislas boutique, including decorative objects, jewellery and art editions.

Souvenirs from Lorraine - the Daum boutique © French Moments
The Daum boutique on Place Stanislas, Nancy

Lunéville earthenware

Founded in 1748, the Lunéville-Saint-Clément earthenware factory is one of the last major manufacturers in Lorraine. Today, it perpetuates its great expertise and unique creativity to design top-of-the-range tableware and decorative pieces.

Lunéville earthenware. Photo by Daderot - Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Lunéville earthenware. Photo by Daderot – Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Images of Epinal

Images d’Epinal are among the most original souvenirs from Lorraine. As the name suggests, these brightly coloured prints with a popular subject originated in the town of Epinal, the prefecture of the Vosges département [88]. It was in 1809 that Spinal entrepreneur Jean-Charles Pellerin helped to make Epinal imagery a national institution!

Souvenirs from Lorraine - Images of Epinal

Among the products of Epinal imagery were the famous “riddles” in which you had to search for a hidden object.

Wall decorations, stationery, old images and art prints are all available from the online shop.

Coffee table books from Lorraine

Beautiful books bring back fond memories of holidays with these large-scale colour illustrations. Carefully printed and usually in a large format, the beautiful book is often given as a gift… whether you’re reading it or leafing through it, it has a special place in your library.

Souvenirs from Lorraine - Coffee Table Books

There are many fine books on Lorraine, particularly on the cities of art and history, Nancy and Metz. This choice changes according to printing availability. Sometimes, for example, a beautiful book is no longer available for sale and has to be found at a flea market or second-hand bookshop.

Souvenirs from Lorraine in the food section

Lorraine is particularly rich in gastronomic products, from beer to sweet treats. Here’s a quick round-up of gourmet souvenirs from Lorraine:

Craft beers from Lorraine

Few people know it, but Lorraine was Europe’s leading beer-producing region in the 19th century. Today, it ranks third in France after Alsace and Flanders. In fact, Lorraine has a long tradition of brewing.

Souvenirs from Lorraine -  beer © French Moments
Champigneulles Beer

The Champigneulles brewery near Nancy is now the last industrial brewery in Lorraine. However, the brewing tradition continues in the region thanks to 54 brewers and 75 craft breweries.
Before you leave the region, pack your bags with a selection of craft beers to suit your tastes: brown, blonde, red, mirabelle plum or bergamot… yes, the beers of Lorraine are sure to surprise even the most discerning consumers!

Old "Bière Croix de Lorraine" poster
Old “Bière Croix de Lorraine” poster

Gris de Toul and Moselle wines

Here’s a wine that many French people don’t even know exists. In the aftermath of the Second World War, a group of winegrowers from the Toulois (the Toul region) set about restoring the local vineyards. Their enterprise was crowned with success when Gris de Toul was classified as an AOC wine in 1988.

Gris de Toul tasting at Laroppe in Bruley © French Moments
Gris de Toul tasting at Laroppe in Bruley

Today, the Toulois and its vineyards total some 100 hectares of vines, spreading around twenty winegrowing operations. The Lorraine vineyards include AOC Vin de Moselle (around Sierck-les-Bains) and Côtes-de-Meuse (IGP, around Hattonchâtel). These wines are available from the regional producers’ cellars or supermarkets.

Souvenirs from Lorraine - Bottles of Gris de Toul © French Moments
Bottles of Gris de Toul

Munster-Géromé

This cheese is emblematic of the Vosges region, shared by Alsace and Lorraine. It’s vacuum-packed so you won’t smell it in the boot of your car. We tried it on a plane journey, and the other passengers didn’t smell a thing!

Souvenirs from Lorraine, munster © French Moments
Munster cheese

Quiche lorraine

The authentic quiche Lorraine is a true icon of Lorraine’s gastronomy, a simple yet flavour-packed dish that perfectly embodies the culinary art of the region. It starts with a crispy shortcrust pastry, topped with a smooth filling made from crème fraîche, beaten eggs, and smoked lardons, all generously seasoned.

Souvenirs from Lorraine - Quiche Lorraine © French Moments
A homemade Quiche Lorraine

Unlike many variations that include cheese, the traditional Lorraine recipe stands out for its simplicity and authenticity, highlighting the lardons’ delicate flavour and the custard’s silky texture.

Baked in the oven until the surface turns a perfect golden colour, the quiche Lorraine is ideally served warm, revealing its full array of aromas and making each bite a genuine taste journey into the heart of Lorraine.

You’ll find authentic Lorraine Quiches in the best bakeries in Lorraine.

Souvenirs from Lorraine - Quiche Lorraine © French Moments
A homemade Quiche Lorraine

Bergamots of Nancy

One of Nancy’s must-try sweets, bergamots echo the gold of Place Stanislas! These translucent golden-yellow sweets, scented with the essential oil of bergamot, are available in bags or their emblematic tin boxes.

Souvenirs from Lorraine - Bergamotes de Nancy by Lalonde © French Moments
Bergamotes de Nancy by Lalonde

This is the only confectionery product in France to be awarded the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) label. The label has guaranteed the “Véritables bergamotes de Nancy” appellation since 2012.

You’ll find Nancy bergamots in several confectioneries in Nancy, as well as in supermarkets in Meurthe-et-Moselle. Here are a few addresses:
– Lalonde, 59 rue Saint-Dizier.
– Alain Batt chocolaterie and confiserie, 40 rue Saint-Georges.
– Maison des Sœurs Macarons, 21 rue Gambetta.
– En Passant par la Lorraine delicatessen (12 shops in Alsace-Lorraine).

Bergamotes de Nancy © French Moments
Bergamotes de Nancy

Macarons of Nancy

Several shops in Nancy make the famous macaroons. Each of these Nancy pastry and confectionery shops jealously guards the recipe. And yet the list of ingredients is straightforward: almond powder, icing sugar and egg white. What makes the difference? The proportions, the skill and the cooking time… Personally, I particularly like the ones from the Maison des Sœurs Macarons, 21 rue Gambetta in Nancy.

Souvenirs from Lorraine - Macarons des Sœurs Macarons © French Moments
Macarons des Sœurs Macarons

Macarons of Boulay

What unique (and little-known) souvenirs can you bring back from Lorraine? Go for the Boulay macaroons, the recipe for which was perfected in 1854 by Binès Lazard and his wife Françoise.
Unlike the famous macaroons from Nancy, those from Boulay are still made by hand, one by one, using a silver spoon. This explains the slightly domed shape that characterises them. However, like Nancy’s, these delicacies from Lorraine have a soft, chewy consistency and a delicate almond flavour.

Boxes of Boulay macarons © French Moments
Boxes of Boulay macarons

There’s only one place to buy them: the Macarons de Boulay shop, 13 Rue de Saint-Avold in Boulay-Moselle. The online shop means you can deliver them to your home without travelling to Lorraine!

Madeleine of Commercy

The Commercy Madeleine has spread throughout France, mainly thanks to Marcel Proust.
The little brioche cake is an integral part of Lorraine’s gastronomic repertoire.
Like many other delicacies from Lorraine, its origins can be traced back to Stanislas, Duke of Lorraine and former King of Poland in the 18th century.

Madeleines de Commercy © French Moments
Home made Madeleines de Commercy

To find genuine madeleines from Commercy, you must go to Commercy itself: La Cloche Lorraine. The online shop lets you deliver them to your home without travelling to Lorraine!

Madeleine of Liverdun

Some Lorraine residents prefer it to the Madeleine from Commercy: the Liverdun Madeleine may not be as famous, but it is just as delicious. Proponents of the Liverdun madeleine claim that it is lighter and more delicate. Thanks to a simple and efficient process, it is soft on the inside and crispy on the edges.

You can recognise it by the image on the boxes and packaging: a wrinkled grandmother with a benevolent gaze! Liverdun madeleines come in three main flavours: plain, mirabelle plum and bergamot.

A box of Liverdun madeleines with mirabelle plum (photo by French Moments)
A box of Liverdun madeleines with mirabelle plum

You can find them in the Liverdun shop (les Véritables Madeleines de Liverdun, 4 place de la gare) and several regional supermarkets.

Dragées of Verdun

Verdun is not only synonymous with the terrible fighting of the First World War. The Meuse town is also the birthplace of the dragée.

The dragée is said to be the oldest confectionery in France. For this reason, it is mentioned as early as 1220 in Verdun.

Souvenirs from Lorraine - Dragées de Verdun © French Moments
Dragées de Verdun from Braquier

Today, the ancestral production of dragées is carried out by Maison Braquier, founded in 1783. Almonds from Sicily and Spain are rigorously selected before forming the heart of the dragées. Of course, the recipe has since evolved, and the dragée can now contain other ‘hearts’: hazelnuts, nougatine, chocolate, liqueur or marzipan.

Bonbons des Vosges

The Vosges mountains have developed undeniable expertise in sweets. These ‘Bonbons des Vosges‘ are made using traditional methods. The sugar is cooked over an open fire in a copper cauldron and then flavoured with natural aromas, essential oils, honey, plants or wild berries.

Bonbons des Vosges © French Moments
You can find the famous Vosges sweets at the Metz Christmas market (place Saint-Louis)

You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to flavours: Vosges fir, eucalyptus, poppy, bergamot, violet, mirabelle plum, mint, liquorice-aniseed, raspberry, blackberry, lemon, orange, mandarin… over 300 tonnes of Vosges sweets are sold every year!

While you’re in the Vosges, be sure to visit these traditional sweet shops:
– La Confiserie des Hautes-Vosges Plainfaing, 44 Habaurupt in Plainfaing.
– Confiserie géromoise, 680 route d’Epinal, Gérardmer.
– La Confiserie Bressaude, 3 route de Cornimont in La Bresse.

Fir-tree honey from the Vosges

The Lorraine side of the Vosges is also famous for its fir tree honey: ‘Miel de Sapin‘. Some say it’s one of the best honeys in France… and the rarest.

In 2017, the PDO was awarded to 18 beekeepers in the Vosges. Vosges fir honey is dark brown with greenish highlights. It has a malty taste and a woody aroma reminiscent of dark coniferous forests.

Fir-tree forest in the Vosges © French Moments
Fir-tree forest in the Vosges

But be careful! To ensure that the honey you buy does have the “Miel de Sapin des Vosges” designation, there are two small details to bear in mind:
– it is sold liquid in glass jars and
– it contains the official seal of guarantee.
You can buy Vosges fir tree honey from beekeepers. See the list here!

Mirabelle plum by-products

The emblematic fruit of an entire region is available in several typical Lorraine delicacies (if you don’t know what souvenirs to bring back from Lorraine, this list of Mirabelle plum-based products should help you):
– tarts
– mirabelles flambéed in caramel
– jam
– candied mirabelles
– Mirabelle plum brandy and
– Mirabelle plum liqueur

Homemade mirabelle plum tart © French Moments
Homemade mirabelle plum tart

These mirabelle plum-based products are found in the region’s confectionery shops and supermarkets.

Products from the Distillerie de Mélanie at the covered market in Metz © French Moments

As for the fruit, you’ll find it on the stalls of many Lorraine markets from summer onwards. Outside the region, check where they come from… some market gardeners buy Mirabelle plums from the southwest, which don’t have the same flavour.

Bar-le-Duc redcurrant jam

The “Lorraine caviar” is found in Bar-le-Duc. It’s a luxury product: Bar-le-Duc redcurrant jam. Mentioned at least as far back as the 14th century, Bar-le-Duc jam was served in crystal on the table of the King of France. In the 20th century, celebrities such as Alfred Hitchcock, Winston Churchill and President Raymond Poincaré loved it.

Bar-le-Duc redcurrant jam © Unknown Author - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Bar-le-Duc redcurrant jam © Unknown Author – licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons

The jam is made by hand from seeded redcurrants using a quill pen. It can be eaten by the spoonful, with foie gras or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Today, Maison Dutriez (35, rue de l’Etoile, Bar-le-Duc) is the only establishment in Lorraine that traditionally produces this specialty.

Do you know of any other souvenirs from Lorraine? Leave a comment below!

About the Author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of Discovery Courses and books about France.

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