Saint-Nicolas-de-Port

Saint-Nicolas-de-Port (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ nikɔla də pɔʁ]) is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle département in north-eastern France.^[3]

CountryFrance

Area

¹

8.23 km² (3.18 sq mi)

Population

(2023)^[2]

7,359

Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)

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Saint-Nicolas-de-Port
Commune
The basilica in Saint-Nicolas-de-Port
Coat of arms
Location of Saint-Nicolas-de-Port
Saint-Nicolas-de-Port Location within France Show map of France Saint-Nicolas-de-Port Location within Grand Est Show map of Grand Est
Coordinates: 48°37′54″N 6°18′11″E
Country	France
Region	Grand Est
Department	Meurthe-et-Moselle
Arrondissement	Nancy
Canton	Jarville-la-Malgrange
Intercommunality	Pays du Sel et du Vermois
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Luc Binsinger[1]
Area 1	8.23 km2 (3.18 sq mi)
Population  (2023)[2]	7,359
• Density	894/km2 (2,320/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	54483 /54210
Elevation	201–292 m (659–958 ft) (avg. 232 m or 761 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

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The town's basilica, Saint Nicolas, is a pilgrimage site, supposedly holding relics of Saint Nicholas brought from Italy. It is one of France's Monuments historiques, and a minor basilica since 1950.

The town's inhabitants are known as Portois. In the past, the Portois were known as loudmouths; their neighbours across the Meurthe at Varangéville liked to gather on the opposite river bank to bombard them with a chorus indicating a wish to defecate in their mouths:

Booyaî d'Senn 'Colais,

Tend tet ghieule quand je...

which in the local Lorrain dialect means:

Loudmouths of St Nicks,

Open your gob when I'm taking a...^[4]

St Nicholas-de-Port is also known for fossil remains of very early (late Triassic) ancestral mammals.