Le cocon des Deux Sirènes

The Maison des Deux Sirènes is a remarkable historic house in Nancy, listed as a historical monument since 1945. Built at the end of the 16th century, this private mansion is a quiet witness to the eventful history of the Duchy of Lorraine. Its name comes from a sculpture on the corner that shows two entwined Tritons, rather than two mermaids. The carved entrance is said to have been the escape route for the Duke of Lorraine, Nicolas-François, and his wife Claude of Lorraine, daughter of the late Duke Henry II. They allegedly fled Nancy on the night of March 31 to April 1, 1634, heading for Franche-Comté, Tuscany, and then Venice. The couple fooled the French guards by disguising themselves as a page and a servant. France had occupied the city and viewed their marriage suspiciously. Louis XIII had taken advantage of the turmoil of the Thirty Years' War to send troops to conquer Lorraine. A woman from Nancy recognized the fugitives, who apparently got away partly because the guards thought it was an April Fool’s joke.