Its long and eventful history has left Metz a city of fine monuments.

Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Metz

The city's Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Metz (Saint Stephen Cathedral), at the heart of the historic city (map) next to the Place d'Armes, has the largest expanse of stained glass in the world, and one of the loftiest naves.

Place d'Armes

The Place d'Armes Jacques-François Blondel (1771), historic governmental center of Metz on the southeast side of the cathedral, was designed to unite the four powers: religious, military, municipal and judicial.

Facing the cathedral across the place is Metz's Hôtel de Ville (City Hall). On the northeastern side was the headquarters of the Corps de la Garde, now the Office de Tourisme. On the southwestern side, the Parliament building was never completed as planned, as you can easily see by examining the architecture of the façade.

Marché Couvert

Just west of the cathedral and Place d'Armes, the Marché Couvert (Covered Market), a large U-shaped building of yellow Metz limestone, is still a market—and an excellent one, with fine displays of fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses and French delicacies.

Place de la République

The spacious Place de la République was first designed as the Place Royale (1802), and over two centuries was used as a fairgrounds and a car parking lot.

In 2010 it was completely redesigned as a vast pubic park with grassy lawns, trees, bushes, flowers and benches. At the northwestern end is a belvedere with views over the Moselle River.

Place de la République is also a major transportation nexus for the city's bus routes.

The Moselle in Metz...

Basilica of Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains

The Basilica of Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains, dating from the 300s AD, is said to be the oldest church in France.

Gare de Metz-Ville

Also called the Palais Gare (Palace Station) because of its huge size and the regal apartments terein designed for Kaiser Wilhelm II, the Gare de Metz-Ville and the grand Bureau de Postes across the street to the west were meant to be the communications center for this part of the German Empire. Still in use as the city's main train station, the Gare is worth a visit even if you seek only to go back in history.

Centre Pompidou-Metz

The strikingly modern Centre Pompidou-Metz is the city's museum of modern and contemporary art, a bold and daring building on the southeast side of the Gare de Metz-Ville, next to the Les Arènes de Metz convention center. You can reach the Centre Pompidou-Metz by walking straight through the train station.

Porte des Allemands

The Porte des Allemands is a medieval gate in the city walls that has survived all the wars and is now part of a convention and exhibition center.

Citadel

Remains of the 16th-century citadel and fortifications built by Louis de Cormontaigne are still visible.

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