Metz — Uncover the Forgotten Register
Decode the hidden register that chronicles Metz's secret identity forged between French and German empires. Solve the coded clues etched in imperial facades to expose the lost truth before it vanishes forever.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In the late 19th century, as German architects reshaped Metz into an imperial stronghold, a shadowy clerk compiled the 'Registre Oublié'—a clandestine ledger documenting the city's dual soul, blending
Metz — Uncover the Forgotten Register
You are an apprentice to Marc Chagall, arrived in Metz in 1968, tasked with researching the city's profound artistic heritage.
Your mission: uncover the forgotten register of influences and
Delve into the layers of time in Metz, a city where every stone whispers echoes of Franco-German alternations and forgotten empires.
« Concordia res parvae crescunt »— Inscription on the facade of the Metz City Hall (1484)
The story that haunts this land
Your quest begins in front of Metz-Ville Station, a building classified as a Historic Monument in 1975, whose 110-meter-long main facade and 40-meter central tower bear witness to Franco-German alternations. Built in 1849 by the Compagnie des chemins de fer de l'Est, it was rebuilt in 1908 under German administration, reflecting the city's turbulent history. It is here that the German Empire left its architectural mark, announcing the imperial quarter that unfolds before you.
As you head towards Place de la République, you discover the heart of Metz's imperial quarter. Developed in 1903-1905 under the German Empire as Kaiser Wilhelm-Platz, this square is dominated by the Governor's Palace, now the regional council headquarters. The equestrian statue of François de Guise, Duke of Lorraine born in Bar-le-Duc in 1519, and the Fountain of Peace, erected in 1903 by architect Wilhelm Circle, recall the multiple sovereignties that marked the city and the Grand-Est region. Every architectural detail is a page in the history of Metz.
Metz Cathedral, Saint-Étienne, whose construction began in 1250 and was completed in 1520, is a masterpiece of Lorraine Gothic style. Classified as a Historic Monument in 1938, it is the 2nd largest in France after Notre-Dame de Paris, with an interior area of 6,500 m². Its 19 contemporary stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall, created between 1958 and 1968, offer a dialogue between medieval art and modernity. On Place Saint-Louis, created in 1762 under Louis XV, you cross the Tanners' quarter, with its half-timbered houses from the 15th-17th centuries and its daily covered market since 1762. This site reminds you of Metz's commercial life and rich heritage.
Your journey leads you to the Palais de Justice de Metz, built in 1762-1764 as an episcopal palace by Jacques-François Blondel. Its 80-meter neoclassical facade, adorned with a sculpted pediment allegorizing Justice, was transformed into a courthouse in 1802 after the French Revolution. Restored in 2010 for 8 million euros, it embodies institutional continuity. Further on, the Porte des Allemands, classified as a Historic Monument in 1930, is a remnant of 13th-century fortifications, with its two 25-meter towers connected by a fortified walkway. It was integrated into the medieval ramparts that encircled the city until the 17th century, testifying to Metz's defensive power.
Concluding your exploration at the Hôtel de Ville de Metz, built in 1480-1484 in flamboyant Gothic style on Place Royale, you gaze at the 35-meter Tour de l'Oie, a former communal belfry from the 14th century. The inscription 'Concordia res parvae crescunt' (Unity makes strength) on its facade, classified as a Historic Monument in 1888, summarizes the spirit of this city. This thematic circuit through the historic center of Metz, rich in Grand-Est monuments, will have allowed you to reconstruct the forgotten register, revealing the secrets of a city shaped by centuries and cultures. You take with you the history of Metz, engraved in stone and stories.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
The game downloads to your phone on start. Once the "✓ Downloaded" indicator appears, everything works without data — narration, AR, GPS and puzzles. Perfect abroad without a data plan.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Traces of an Identity
Untangle the threads of a complex history, between French attachment and German domination.
Bipartite Architecture
Explore monuments that bear the marks of two cultures and two antagonistic eras.
Forgotten Heroes
Meet the figures, known or anonymous, who worked to preserve the soul of Metz.
The past is never dead. It's not even past.
William Faulkner
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Is Metz — Uncover the Forgotten Register similar to a treasure hunt?
Same spirit: search, deduce, find. But here the "treasure" is a full story to piece together in eight stops. Each stop gives you a fragment of the final code. Eight fragments later, you've cracked it.
Q02How far do you walk in Metz city center, Imperial Quarter and Medieval City?
Usually 2 to 4 km of total walking, within 1.5 km as the crow flies from the start point. The route is designed to be walkable at a relaxed pace, no public transport needed.
Q03Can we do Metz — Uncover the Forgotten Register as a family with kids?
Yes, from age 6 with an adult reading puzzles aloud, and from age 12 on their own. Kids love the "find the camera clue" part — it's very visual, gets them genuinely involved.
Q04What's the best time to start?
Morning between 10 and 11, or early afternoon around 2 PM, is ideal. You still have daylight ahead, Metz city center, Imperial Quarter and Medieval City is less crowded, and the light is better for camera clues.
Avis des aventuriers
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Your turn to play
Delve into the layers of time in Metz, a city where every stone whispers echoes of Franco-German alternations and forgotten empires.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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