Metz & Centre Pompidou★★
Metz is the capital of Lorraine and one of the most underrated cities in France. With 3,000 years of history, a spectacular Gothic cathedral, the futuristic Centre Pompidou-Metz, and one of the largest preserved Art Nouveau districts in Europe, the city deserves far more than just being a stopover on the way to Paris.
Metz is located at the confluence of the Moselle and Seille rivers and is a city of water — canals, islands, and parks crisscross the center. The old town on the Île du Petit-Saulcy and around the cathedral has a unique character: bright Jaumont limestone (the "golden stone of Lorraine") gives the buildings a warm, honey-colored tone.
Cathedral Saint-Étienne★★★
The cathedral of Metz has the largest stained glass area of any Gothic cathedral worldwide — 6,500 m² of stained glass, earning it the nickname "Lantern of God" (Lanterne du Bon Dieu). The windows come from all eras: from the 14th century to Marc Chagall, who designed several windows from 1958–1968. His brightly blue and red windows in the north transept — scenes from the Old Testament — are among the most beautiful modern church windows in the world.
The nave reaches a height of 41.41 meters — one of the highest in France. The overall impression of the light flooding through the colored windows is overwhelming.
Free entry. Daily 8 a.m.–6 p.m. (summer until 7 p.m.). Guided tours in German and French through the tourist office (€8).
Centre Pompidou-Metz★★
The first "branch" of the Paris Centre Pompidou opened in Metz in 2010 — a spectacular building by Japanese architects Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines. The hexagonal roof made of wood and Teflon membrane resembles a Chinese bamboo hat and is a masterpiece of engineering.
The museum features temporary exhibitions with works from the Centre Pompidou's collection (over 120,000 works, the largest collection of modern art in Europe). Three large gallery rooms, each with 1,000 m², provide space for ambitious exhibitions. The quality varies — check the current program in advance.
Even if the current exhibition doesn't convince: The building itself is worth a visit. From the rooftop terrace (freely accessible), there is a beautiful view over Metz and the train station.
💡 Tipp
The TGV station Metz is right next to the Centre Pompidou — ideal for a day trip from Paris (1:25 hrs, from €29) or Strasbourg (1:15 hrs, from €15). On Thursdays, the museum is open until 8 p.m. and cheaper from 5 p.m. (€8 instead of €12).
Quartier Impérial
The Imperial Quarter (Quartier Impérial, UNESCO World Heritage candidate) was built between 1902 and 1918 when Metz belonged to the German Empire. Kaiser Wilhelm II wanted to make the city the showcase of the Reichsland Alsace-Lorraine and commissioned the best architects with representative buildings.
The result is a unique ensemble of Wilhelminian neo-Baroque, Art Nouveau, and Neo-Renaissance: the monumental Metz-Ville train station (1908, entirely made of granite), the Main Post Office (Neo-Romanesque), the Governor's Palace, and numerous residential buildings with Art Nouveau facades. An architectural history walk through the district takes about 1 hour.
