Metz — Whispers of the Frontier

Metz, a city in the Grand-Est region, welcomes you in front of its City Hall, the starting point of your exploration. This Place d'Armes, redesigned in 1780 by architect Jacques-François Blondel under Austrian administration, is the historical heart of Metz. Surrounded by buildings classified as historical monuments, such as the Saint-Étienne Cathedral and the Palace of Justice, this 1.5-hectare area has been a central location for markets since the Middle Ages and witnessed public executions in the 17th century during Louis XIV's wars. It is here that Blondel's neoclassical architecture unfolds, a testament to Metz's urban evolution.

Metz City Hall, built between 1755 and 1760 by Jacques-François Blondel, embodies the neoclassical style of that period. Classified as a Historical Monument in 1931, its facade is adorned with military trophies symbolizing Louis XV's conquests. Since 1790, this 25-meter-high building, whose belfry is visible from 1.5 km away, has been the seat of the municipality. By observing closely, you will distinguish the inscription engraved on the pediment since the French Revolution of 1789, a reminder of the ideals that have spanned the ages. Nearby, the Governor's Palace of Metz, built in 1769-1773 by Jean-François Blondel (Jacques-François's nephew), offers a contrast with its rococo style and monumental main staircase. Classified as a Historical Monument in 1942, it served as the residence for German governors between 1871 and 1918.

Your journey will then lead you to the Saint-Étienne Cathedral of Metz, nicknamed 'God's lantern'. Primarily built between 1250 and 1550 in flamboyant Gothic style, it was classified as a Historical Monument in 1840. Its record-breaking stained-glass surface of 6,500 m² makes it the largest cathedral in France after Notre-Dame de Paris, with an interior height of 42 meters. It was in these very places that Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet, Bishop of Metz, delivered his famous sermons in 1680 during the Counter-Reformation. Roman vestiges discovered under the choir in 2010 confirm Gallo-Roman occupation as early as the 1st century, attesting to the ancient heritage of Metz.

As you continue your exploration, you will discover the Opéra-Théâtre de Metz Métropole, inaugurated in 1753. This first theater in France built by public subscription, in neoclassical style with a capacity of 750 seats, was classified as a Historical Monument in 1964. Rebuilt after a fire in 1814, its 400 m² stage is equipped with period machinery. It was here that Antonio Salieri's opera 'Les Danaïdes' premiered in 1784. The Rue des Allemands, a paved street from the 13th century in the Tanner's Quarter, takes you back to an older Metz. With its half-timbered houses dating from 1450-1550, it was classified as a protected area in 1975 and named after the German merchants who settled there in the 14th century. Its 300 meters make it the narrowest street in Metz, with a minimum width of 2.5 meters, and its ends reveal vestiges of medieval fortifications.

Your journey concludes at Place Saint-Jacques, a historic 14th-century square, surrounded by Renaissance houses classified since 1929. A former fish market, it houses the Saint-Jacques fountain erected in 1740 with its polychrome sculpture. This square was the seat of the Commercial Court since 1807 and witnessed the troubles of the Fronde in 1651 with barricades erected by the Messins. Finally, the Temple Neuf of Metz, built between 1901 and 1905 in neo-Romanesque style under German administration, and classified as a Historical Monument in 1993, is an architectural symbol of the German annexation (1871-1918). Converted into an organ museum in 2005, it houses a Silbermann organ from 1710 restored in 1990. This interactive visit to Metz, a city of art and history in the Grand-Est, will leave you with a deep understanding of its UNESCO World Heritage candidate status and its Gothic architecture.