Metz ( ; ; , then Mettis) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand Est region.[Says J.M. (2010) La Moselle, une rivière européenne. Eds. Serpenoise. ] the city forms a central part of the European Greater Region and the SaarLorLux euroregion.
Metz has a rich 3,000-year history,[Bour R. (2007) Histoire de Metz, nouvelle édition. Eds. Serpenoise. ] having variously been a Celts oppidum, an important Gallo-Roman city,[Vigneron B. (1986) Metz antique: Divodurum Mediomatricorum. Eds. Maisonneuve. ] the Merovingian capital of Austrasia,[Huguenin A. (2011) Histoire du royaume mérovingien d'Austrasie. Eds. des Paraiges. pp. 134,275 ] the birthplace of the Carolingian dynasty,[Settipani C. (1989) Les ancêtres de Charlemagne. Ed. Société atlantique d'impression. pp. 3–49 ] a cradle of the Gregorian chant,[Demollière C.J. (2004) L'art du chantre carolingien. Eds. Serpenoise. ] and one of the oldest republics in Europe.[Roemer F. (2007) Les institutions de la République messine. Eds. Serpenoise. ] The city has been steeped in French culture, but has been strongly influenced by German culture due to its location and history.[Weyland A. (2010) Moselle plurielle: identité complexe & complexes identitaires. Eds. Serpenoise. ]
Because of its historical, cultural and architectural background, Metz has been submitted on France's UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.[Collectif (2009) Monumental 2009 – semestriel 1. Coll. Monumental. Eds. Guides archeologiques de la France. ] the Basilica of Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains being the oldest church in France,[Delestre X. (1988) Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains (Metz – Moselle): de l'époque romaine à l'époque gothique. Eds. Guides archeologiques de la France. ] its Imperial Station Palace displaying the apartment of the German Kaiser,[Schontz A. (2008) La gare de Metz. Eds. Serpenoise. ] or its Opera House, the oldest one working in France.[Masson G. (2002) L'Opéra-théâtre de Metz. Ed. Klopp, Gerard. ] Metz is home to some world-class venues including the Arsenal Concert Hall and the Centre Pompidou-Metz museum.
A basin of urban ecology,[Pelt J.M. (1977) L'Homme re-naturé. Eds. Seuil. ][Hamel S. and Walter J. (2000) Metz. Ecologie urbaine et convivialité. Ed. Autrement. ]
A historic garrison town, Metz is the economic heart of the Lorraine region, specialising in information technology and automotive industries. Metz is home to the University of Lorraine, Georgia Tech Europe, and a centre for applied research and development in the materials sector, notably in metallurgy and metallography,[Gendarme R. (1985) Sidérurgie en Lorraine, les coulées du futur. Eds. Presses Universitaires de Nancy. ]
Etymology
In ancient times, the town was known as "city of
Mediomatrici", being inhabited by the tribe of the same name.
[Martin P. (2010) Metz, 2000 years of history. Eds. Serpenoise. pp. 8–9] After its integration into the
Roman Empire, the city was called
Divodurum Mediomatricum, meaning Holy Village or Holy Fortress of the Mediomatrici,
[Toussaint M. (1948) Metz à l'époque gallo-romaine. Eds. Impr. P. Even. pp. 21–22 ] then it was known as
Mediomatrix.
During the 5th century AD, the name evolved to "Mettis", which gave rise to the current spelling, Metz,
but also spellings such as
Mès, which are no longer used, but reflect its actual pronunciation in French (like "mess").
[.]
History
Metz has a recorded history dating back over 2,000 years. Before the
Gallic Wars by
Julius Caesar in 52 BC, it was the
oppidum of the
Mediomatrici tribe.
Integrated into the Roman Empire, Metz became quickly one of the principal towns of
Gaul with a population of 40,000,
until the
migration period depredations and its transfer to the
Franks about the end of the 5th century.
[Di Rocco A. (2009) Année 451 : la bataille qui sauva l'Occident. Eds. Thélès. pp. 156–158 ][Gibbon E (1788) History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. 4:35] Between the 6th and 8th centuries, the city was the residence of the
Merovingian kings of
Austrasia.
After the Treaty of Verdun in 843, Metz became the capital of the Kingdom of Lotharingia and was ultimately integrated into the Holy Roman Empire, being granted semi-independent status.
During the 12th century, Metz became a
republic and the Republic of Metz stood until the 15th century.
With the signature of the Treaty of Chambord in 1552, Metz passed into the hands of the Kings of France.[Brasme P. (2011) Quand Metz reçoit la France. Eds. des Paraiges. pp. 17–34 ] As the German Protestant Princes who traded Metz (alongside Toul and Verdun) for the promise of French military assistance, had no authority to cede territory of the Holy Roman Empire, the change of jurisdiction was not recognised by the Holy Roman Empire until the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648. Under French rule, Metz was selected as capital of the Three Bishoprics and became a strategic fortified town.[Vigneron B. (2010) Le dernier siècle de la république de Metz. Eds. du Panthéon. ] With creation of the departments by the Estates-General of 1789, Metz was chosen as capital of the Department of Moselle.
Although largely French-speaking, after the Franco-Prussian War and under the Treaty of Frankfurt of 1871 the city became part of the German Empire, being part of the Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine and serving as capital of the Bezirk Lothringen.[Roth F. (2011) La Lorraine Annexée – version 2011, nouvelle édition. Eds. Serpenoise. ]
Metz remained German until the end of the First World War, when it reverted to France.[Berrar J.C. (2009) Metz, retour à la France. Eds. Serpenoise. ] However, after the Battle of France during the Second World War, the city was annexed by Nazi Germany.[Przybylski S. (2009) La Campagne de Lorraine de 1944, Panther contre Sherman. Eds. Serpenoise. ][Denis P. (2008) La Libération de la Lorraine, 1940–1945. Eds. Serpenoise. ]
During the 1950s, Metz was chosen to be the capital of the newly created Lorraine region.[Roth F. (2012) Histoire politique de la Lorraine, de 1900 à nos jours. Eds. Serpenoise. ] With the creation of the European Community and the later European Union, the city has become central to the Greater Region and the SaarLorLux Euroregion.
Geography
Metz is located on the banks of the Moselle and the Seille rivers, from the Schengen
tripoint where the borders of France, Germany and Luxembourg meet.
The city was built in a place where many branches of the Moselle river create several islands, which are encompassed within the urban planning.
The terrain of Metz forms part of the Paris Basin and presents a plateau relief cut by river valleys presenting in the north–south direction.[Leza-Chomard A. and Pautrot C. (2006) Géologie et géographie de la Lorraine. Eds. Serpenoise. ] Metz and its surrounding countryside are included in the forest and crop Lorraine Regional Natural Park, covering a total area of .
Climate
Lorraine has an
oceanic climate.
[Beck J.S. (2011) 2000 ans de climat en Alsace et en Lorraine. Eds. Coprur. ] tending to continental humid. The summers are warm and humid, sometimes stormy, and the warmest month of the year is July, when daytime temperatures average approximately . The winters are cold but not often snowy with temperature dropping to an average low of in January. Lows can be much colder through the night and early morning and rare snow can fall during a period extending from November to February.
The length of the day varies significantly over the course of the year.
Demographics
by
Edmond Aman-Jean, 1892, oil on canvas, Golden Courtyard museums
]]
Population
The inhabitants of Metz are called
Messin(e)s. Statistics on the ethnic and religious make up of the population of Metz are haphazard, as the French Republic prohibits making distinctions between citizens regarding race, beliefs, and political and philosophic opinions in the process of census taking.
[A law from 1872 forbids the collection by the state of census data based on questions about religious beliefs. The French Third Republic considered that kind of information to be private and that any citizen of the Republic should be considered as equal of his mates, regardless his provocative and potentially . In accordance with the concept of laïcité, this principle was reaffirmed by the current French Fifth Republic in a law from 1978, stating that "it is forbidden to collect or process data of a personal nature related to racial or ethnic origins as well as political, philosophic, or religious opinions."]
As of 2022, the population of Metz was about 122,000, while the population of Metz metropolitan area was about 377,000.
Notable people
Several well-known figures have been linked to the city of Metz throughout its history. Renowned
Messins include poet
Paul Verlaine,
composer
Ambroise Thomas and mathematician Jean-Victor Poncelet; numerous well-known German figures were also born in Metz notably during the annexation periods. Moreover, the city has been the residence of people such as writer François Rabelais,
Cardinal Mazarin, political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville, artist and the inventor of the motion picture camera Louis Le Prince, French patriot and American Revolutionary War hero Marquis Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette, and Luxembourg-born German-French statesman
Robert Schuman.
Law and government
Local law
The
local law () applied in Metz is a legal system that operates in parallel with
French law. Created in 1919, it preserves the French laws applied in France before 1870 and maintained by the Germans during the annexation of
Alsace-Lorraine, but repealed in the rest of France after 1871. It also maintains German laws enacted by the
German Empire between 1871 and 1918, specific provisions adopted by the local authorities, and French laws that have been enacted after 1919 to be applicable only in Alsace-Lorraine. This specific local legislation encompasses different areas including religion, social work and finance.
The most striking of the legal differences between France and Alsace-Lorraine is the absence in Alsace-Lorraine of strict secularism, even though a constitutional right of freedom of religion is guaranteed by the French government. Alsace-Lorraine is still governed by a pre-1905 law established by the Concordat of 1801, which provides for the public subsidy of the Roman Catholic, Lutheran Church and Calvinist Church churches and the Judaism religion.
Administration
Like every commune of the present French Republic, Metz is managed by a mayor () and a municipal council (), democratically elected by
two-round system proportional voting for six years.
The mayor is assisted by 54 municipal councillors,
and the municipal council is held on the last Thursday of every month.
[Since March 2009, records of municipal council meetings are available as audio files in French.] Since 2008,
the mayor of Metz has been socialist Dominique Gros.
The city belongs to the Metz Metropole union of cities, which includes the 40 cities of the Metz urban agglomeration.
City administrative divisions
The city of Metz is divided into 14 administrative divisions:
|
|
| 1 | Devant-les-Ponts | Desvalliere barracks | |
| 2 | Metz-Nord Patrotte | Harbour zone |
| 3 | Les îles | Grand Est, University of Lorraine, Fabert High School, Cogeneration Plant |
| 4 | Plantières-Queuleu | Queuleu Fort, Museum of Resistance and Deportation of Metz |
| 5 | Bellecroix | Bellecroix Fort |
| 6 | Metz-Vallières | Robert Schuman private hospital |
| 7 | Borny | University of Lorraine, Contemporary Music Venue |
| 8 | Grigy-Technopôle | Metz Science Park, Arts et Métiers ParisTech, University of Lorraine, Georgia Tech Lorraine, Supélec |
| 9 | Grange aux Bois | Trade Fair Center |
| 10 | Sablon | Centre Pompidou-Metz, Indoor Sports Arena, Caisse d'Épargne regional headquarters, Metz-Metropole Conference Centre Hall (project) |
| 11 | Magny | Saint-Clement and Leusiotte woods |
| 12 | Nouvelle Ville | Imperial Station-Palace, INSEE and Banque Populaire regional headquarters, Central Post Office, Chamber of Commerce |
| 13 | Metz Centre | City Hall, Prefecture, Metz Cathedral, Temple Neuf, Arsenal Concert Hall, Opera House |
| 14 | Ancienne Ville | Germans' Gate, Golden Courtyard Museum, Regional Contemporary Art Fund of Lorraine, Jazz Concert Venue |
Cityscape and environmental policy
Metz contains a mishmash of architectural layers, bearing witness to centuries of history at the crossroads of different cultures,
[Braun S. (2008) Metz, Portrait d'une ville. Eds. Serpenoise. ] and features a number of architectural landmarks.
[Hubert P. (2004) Metz, ville d'architectures. Ed. Domini, Serge. ; pp. 164–165 ] The city possesses one of the largest Urban Conservation Areas in France,
and more than 100 of the city's buildings are classified on the Monument Historique list.
Because of its historical and cultural background, Metz is designated as French Town of Art and History, and has been submitted on to France's UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
The city is famous for its yellow limestone architecture, a result of the extensive use of Jaumont stone.
Architecture
From its
Gallo-Roman past, the city preserves vestiges of the
thermae (in the basement of the Golden Courtyard museum), parts of the aqueduct,
[Collectif (2006) L'aqueduc antique de Gorze à Metz. Moselle 119. Coll. Itinéraires du patrimoine. Eds. Serpenoise. ] and the Basilica of Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains.
Saint Louis' square with its vaulted arcades and a Knights Templar chapel remains a major symbol of the city's High Medieval heritage. The Gothic Metz Cathedral, several churches and Hôtels, and two remarkable municipal Granary reflect the Late Middle Ages.
The Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) and the buildings surrounding the town square are by French architect Jacques-François Blondel, who was awarded the task of redesigning and modernizing the centre of Metz by the Royal Academy of Architecture in 1755 the context of the Enlightenment.[Wagner P.E. and Jollin J.L. (1987) 15 siècles d'architecture et d'urbanisme autour de la cathédrale de Metz. Eds. Serpenoise. pp. 123–276 ] Neoclassical buildings from the 18th century, such as the Opera House,[Collectif (2006) L'hôtel de l'Intendance, Préfecture de la Moselle et de la région Lorraine, Metz, N°310. Coll. Itinéraires du patrimoines. Eds. Serpenoise. ] and the Royal Governor's Palace (the present-day courthouse) built by Charles-Louis Clérisseau, are also found in the city.
The Imperial District was built during the first annexation of Metz by the German Empire.[Pignon-Feller C. (2005) Metz 1848–1918. Eds. Serpenoise. ] In order to "germanise" the city, Emperor Wilhelm II decided to create a new district shaped by a distinctive blend of Germanic architecture, including Renaissance, neo-Romanesque and neo-Classical, mixed with elements of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Alsatian and mock-Bavarian styles.
Modern architecture can also be seen in the town with works of French architects Roger-Henri Expert (Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant-Jésus church, 1934), Georges-Henri Pingusson (Fire Station, 1960) and Jean Dubuisson (subdivisions, 1960s).[Expert R.H. Roger-Henri Expert, 1882–1955. Volume 3 de Institut français d'architecture. Eds. du Moniteur. ][Collectif (1997) Georges-Henri Pingusson, architecte de l'œuvre lorraine N°147. Eds. Serpenoise. ] The refurbishment of the former Ney Arsenal as a Concert Hall in 1989 and the erection of the Metz Arena in 2002, by Spanish and French architects Ricardo Bofill and French Paul Chemetov represent the postmodernism.
The Centre Pompidou-Metz museum in the Amphitheatre District represents a strong architectural initiative to mark the entrance of Metz into the 21st century.[Jodidio P. (2010) Shigeru Ban, complete works 1985–2010. Ed. Jodidio, Philip. pp. 426–447] Designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, the building is remarkable for the complex, innovative carpentry of its roof,
Urban ecology
Under the leadership of such people as botanist
Jean-Marie Pelt, Metz pioneered a policy of
urban ecology during the early 1970s.
Because of the failure of
post-war urban planning and
housing estate development in Europe during the 1960s, mostly based on the concepts of CIAM,
[Berrar J.C. (2011) Metz défigurée dans les années 60-70. Eds. Serpenoise. ] Jean-Marie Pelt, then municipal councillor of Metz, initiated a new approach to the urban environment.
Based initially on the ideas of the Chicago School, Pelt's theories pleaded for better integration of humans into their environment and developed a concept centered on the relationship between "stone and water".
The principles of urban ecology are still applied in Metz with the implementation of a local Agenda 21 action plan.
Additionally, the city has developed its own cogeneration, using waste wood biomass from the surrounding forests as a renewable energy source.
Military architecture
As a historic
garrison town, Metz has been heavily influenced by military architecture throughout its history.
From
ancient history to the present, the city has been successively fortified and modified to accommodate the troops stationed there.
from classical antiquity to the 20th century are still visible today, incorporated into the design of public gardens along the Moselle and Seille rivers.
A medieval
bridge castle from the 13th century, named Germans' Gate (), today converted into a convention and exhibition centre, has become one of the landmarks of the city. It is still possible to see parts of the
Metz Citadel, as well as fortifications built in the 1740s by Louis de Cormontaigne but based on designs by Vauban.
[Halleck W., Halleck H.W., and Halleck H. (2009) Elements of military art and science. Ed. Applewood Books. ] Important barracks, mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries, are spread around the city: some, which are of architectural interest, have been converted to civilian use, such as the Arsenal Concert Hall by Spanish architect
Ricardo Bofill.
The extensive fortifications of Metz, which ring the city, include early examples of Séré de Rivières system forts.[Le Hallé G. (2001) Le système Séré de Rivières ou le témoignage des pierres. Eds. Ysec. ] Other forts were incorporated into the Maginot Line.[Allcorn W. (2003) The Maginot Line 1928–45. Ed. Osprey Publishing, Oxford. pp. 57–58] A hiking trail on the Saint-Quentin plateau passes through a former military training zone and ends at the now abandoned military forts, providing a vantage point from which to survey the city.
Economy
Although the
steel industry has historically dominated Moselle's economy, Metz's efforts at economic diversification have created a base in the sectors of
commerce,
tourism, information technology and the
automotive industry. The city is the economic heart of the Lorraine region and around 73,000 people work daily within the urban agglomeration.
The transport facilities found in the conurbation, including the international
, motorway, inland connections and the local bus rapid transit system, have made the city a transport hub in the heart of the European Union.
Metz is home to the biggest harbour handling
in France with over 4,000,000 tons/year.
Metz is home to the Moselle Chamber of Commerce. International companies such as PSA Peugeot Citroën, ArcelorMittal, SFR and TDF Group have established plants and centres in the Metz conurbation. Metz is also the regional headquarters of the Caisse d'Epargne and Banque Populaire banking groups.
Metz is an important commercial centre of northern France with France's biggest retailer federation, consisting of around 2,000 retailers.
In recent years, Metz municipality have promoted an ambitious policy of tourism development, including urban revitalization and refurbishment of buildings and public squares.
Culture
Museums and exhibition halls
-
The Centre Pompidou-Metz is a museum of Contemporary art, the largest temporary exhibition area in France outside Paris. The museum features exhibitions from the extensive collection of the Centre Pompidou, Europe's largest collection of 20th-century art.
-
Metz Cathedral is the Gothic cathedral of the city built during the 13th century.
[Jolin J.L. (2001) La lanterne du Bon Dieu. Eds. Serpnoise. . ] as it has the largest expanse of stained glass windows in the world: . These include works by Gothic art and Renaissance art master glass makers Hermann von Münster, Théobald of Lixheim and Valentin Bousch, romanticism Charles-Laurent Maréchal, tachisme Roger Bissière, cubism Jacques Villon and modernism Marc Chagall.
-
Another of the city's churches displays a complete set of stained glass windows by French modernism Jean Cocteau.
In addition, Metz features other museums and exhibition venues, such as:
-
The FRAC Lorraine, a public collection of contemporary art of the Lorraine region. It is located in the 12th-century Saint-Liver Hôtel and organizes exhibitions of local and international contemporary artists.
-
The Golden Courtyard (), a museum dedicated to the history of Metz, divided into four sections (e.g. archeology, medieval, architecture and fine arts).
-
The Museum of the 1870 War and of the Annexion in Gravelotte, a village located within the Metz-Metropole conurbation and the site of the Battle of Gravelotte, the only museum in Europe dedicated to the Franco-Prussian War.
-
The House for Europe, located on the estate of Robert Schuman in Scy-Chazelles in the Metz-Metropole conurbation, transformed into a museum and convention centre.
-
Verlaine's House () is a museum located in the house where the poet Paul Verlaine was born, dedicated to his work, featuring permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Entertainment and performing arts
Metz has several venues for the performing arts. The Opera House of Metz, the oldest working
opera house in France, features plays, dance and lyric poetry.
The Arsenal Concert Hall, dedicated to
art music, is widely renowned for its excellent acoustics.
[Classica (2010) Les hauts lieux de la musique. September, Issue 125 ] The Trinitarians Club is a multimedia arts complex housed in the vaulted cellar and chapel of an ancient convent, the city's prime venue for
jazz music.
The Music Box (), familiarly known as BAM, is the concert venue dedicated to rock and electronic music.
The Braun Hall and the Koltès Theater feature plays, and the city has two
specializing in
Auteur theory. The Saint-Jacques Square, surrounded by busy bars and pubs whose open-air tables fill the centre of the square.
Since 2014, the former bus garage has been converted to accommodate over thirty artists in residence, in a space where they can create and rehearse artworks and even build set decorations.
Metz in the arts
Metz was an important cultural centre during the Carolingian Renaissance.
For instance,
Gregorian chant was created in Metz during the 8th century as a fusion of Gallican and ancient Roman repertory. Then called Messin Chant, it remains the oldest form of music still in use in Western Europe. The bishops of Metz, notably Saint-Chrodegang promoted its use for the Roman liturgy in Gallic lands under the favorable influence of the Carolingian monarchs. Messin chant made two major contributions to the body of chant: it fitted the chant into the ancient Greek
octoechos system, and invented an innovative
musical notation, using
to show the shape of a remembered melody.
[Grier J. (2003) Ademar de Chabannes, Carolingian Musical Practices, and Nota Romana. Journal of the American Musicological Society. 56 (1):43–98.] Metz was also an important centre of illumination of Carolingian manuscripts, producing such monuments of Carolingian book illumination as the Drogo Sacramentary.
The Metz School () was an art movement in Metz and the region between 1834 and 1870, centred on Charles-Laurent Maréchal.[Livre Groupe (2010) École de Metz: Christophe Fratin, Charles-Franois Champigneulle, Laurent-Charles Marechal, Louis-Theodore Devilly, Auguste Migette. Eds. Books LLC. ] The term was originally proposed in 1845 by the poet Charles Baudelaire, who appreciated the works of the artists. They were influenced by Eugène Delacroix and inspired by the medieval heritage of Metz and its romantic surroundings.
A festival named "passages" takes place in May. Numerous shows are presented to it.
Graoully dragon as symbol of the city
The Graoully is depicted as a fearsome dragon, vanquished by the sacred powers of Saint Clement of Metz, the first Bishop of the city. The Graoully quickly became a symbol of Metz and can be seen in numerous insignia of the city, from the 10th century on.
[Bellard A. (1966) Le Graoully de Metz à la lumière de la paléontologie. Ed. Mémoires de l'Académie de Metz. ] Writers from Metz tend to present the legend as an allegory of Christianity's victory over
paganism, represented by the harmful dragon.
Cuisine
Local specialties include
quiche, potée, Lorraine pâté and also
suckling pig.
[Sassi J. (2002) Cuisine, terroir et traditions de Moselle. Eds. Serpenoise. ] Various dishes such as jam, tart,
charcuterie and
fruit brandy are made from the
Mirabelle plum and
Damsons.
Metz is the home of some
Pastry, such as Metz cheese pie and Metz Balls (), a ganache-stuffed biscuit coated with
marzipan, caramel and dark chocolate.
Local beverages include
Moselle wine and Amos beer.
The Covered Market of Metz is one of the oldest and most grandiose in France and is home to traditional local food producers and retailers. It was originally built as the bishop's palace but the French Revolution broke out before the Bishop of Metz could move in and the citizens decided to turn it into a food market.
The adjacent Chamber's Square () is surrounded by numerous restaurants serving local food.
Celebrations and events
Many events are celebrated in Metz throughout the year.
The city of Metz dedicates two weeks to the
Mirabelle plum during the popular Mirabelle Festival held in August. During the festival, in addition to open markets selling fresh plums, mirabelle tarts and mirabelle liquor, there are live music, fireworks, parties, art exhibits, a parade with floral floats, a competition, the crowning of the Mirabelle Queen and a gala of celebration.
A literature festival is held in June. The Montgolfiades hot air balloon festival is organized in September. The second most popular Christmas Market in France is held in November and December.
Sport
Metz is home to the Football Club of Metz (
FC Metz), a football association club in Ligue 1, the highest division of French football (as of 2019–2020 season). FC Metz has won three times the Ligue 2 (1935, 2007 and 2014), twice the Coupe de France (in 1984 and 1988) and the French League Cup (in 1986 and 1996), and was French championship runner-up in 1998.
FC Metz has also gained recognition in France and Europe for its successful youth academy, winning the Gambardella Cup 3 times in 1981, 2001 and 2010.
The Saint-Symphorien stadium has been the home of FC Metz since the creation of the club.
Metz Handball is a Handball club. Metz Handball has won the French Women's First League championship 23 times, the Women's France Cup nine times, and the French Women's League Cup eight times.
Since 2003, Metz has been home to the Moselle Open, an ATP World Tour 250 tournament played on indoor hard courts, which usually takes place in September.
|
FC Metz | | Association football | Ligue 1, French Cup, French League Cup | Saint-Symphorien stadium |
Metz Handball | | Handball | French Women's First League, EHF Women's Champions League | Metz Arena |
Metz Hockey Club | | Ice hockey | French Men's Second League | Saint-Symphorien Ice Ring |
| Metz Ronde Pétanque | | Pétanque | French Championship, European Cup | Saint-Symphorien Arena |
Metz TT | | Table Tennis | French Women's Pro A; French Men's Pro B | Saint-Symphorien Arena |
| | Moselle Open | Tennis | ATP World Tour 250 tournament | Metz Arena |
| | Golden Mirabelle Open | Golf | Allianz Golf Tour | Technopole Golf Course |
| | Mirabelle Metz Marathon | Athletics | | Metz Urban Agglomeration |
Education
High schools
Metz has numerous high schools, including the Fabert High School and the Lycée of Communication. Some of these institutions offer higher education courses such as classes préparatoires (undergraduate school) or BTS (technician certificate).
University of Lorraine
Metz is also home to the University of Lorraine (often abbreviated as UL).
The university is divided into two university centers, one in Metz (material sciences, technology and management) and one in Nancy (biological sciences, health care, administration, management and law). The University of Lorraine, which ranks in 2016 among the top 15 of French universities and among the top 300 of universities in the world according to the 2016 Academic Ranking of World Universities,
has a student body of over 55,000 and offers 101 accredited research centers organized in 9 research areas and 8 doctoral colleges.
Graduate schools
At the end of the 1990s, the city expanded and the Metz Science Park was created in the southern area. Along with this expansion, several graduate schools took the opportunity to establish campuses in the park. At first, facilities were grouped around the lake Symphony, like Supélec in 1985 and Georgia Tech Lorraine in 1990.
In 1996, the engineering school Arts et Métiers ParisTech (ENSAM) built a research and learning center next to the golf course.
This opened the way to the development of a new area, where the Franco-German university (ISFATES) and the ENIM moved in 2010. These graduate schools often cooperate with the University of Lorraine. For instance, the university and ENSAM share research teams, laboratories, equipments and doctoral programs. The École supérieure d'ingénieurs des travaux de la construction de Metz is also located in the city.
Transport
Local transport
Public transport includes a bus rapid transit system, called Mettis.
Mettis vehicles are high-capacity hybrid bi-articulated buses built by
Van Hool,
and stop at designated elevated tubes, complete with disability access. Mettis has its own planned and integrated transportation system, which includes two dedicated lines that spread out into the Metz conurbation. Mettis lanes A and B serve the city's major facilities (e.g., city centre, university campus and hospitals), and a
transport hub is located next to the railway station.
Railways
Metz Railway Station is connected to the French high speed train (
TGV) network, which provides a direct rail service to
Paris and
Luxembourg City. The time from Paris (Gare de l'Est) to Metz is 82 minutes. Additionally, Metz is served by the Lorraine TGV railway station, located at Louvigny, to the south of Metz, for high speed trains going to
Nantes,
Rennes,
Lille and
Bordeaux (without stopping in
Paris). Also, Metz is one of the main stations of the regional express trains system, Métrolor.
Motorways
Metz is located at the intersection of two major road axes: the Eastern Motorway, itself a part of the European route E50 connecting Paris to
Prague, and the A31 Motorway, which goes north to
Luxembourg and south to the Mediterranean Sea towards Nancy,
Dijon and
Lyon.
Airports
The Luxembourg International Airport is the nearest international airport, connected to Metz by Métrolor train. The Lorraine TGV Station is 75 minutes by train from
France international Charles de Gaulle Airport. Finally, Metz–Nancy–Lorraine Airport is located in Goin, southeast of Metz.
Waterways
Metz is located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers, both navigable waterways. The marina connects Metz to the cities of the Moselle valley (i.e.
Trier, Schengen and
Koblenz) via the Moselle river.
Main sights
Religious heritage
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the Gothic Metz Cathedral built during the 13th century. The cathedral is nicknamed the Good Lord's Lantern (),
[Kuhn-Mutter M.A. (2011) Oratorio pour une cathédrale. Eds. Serpenoise. ]
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the Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains basilica, one of the oldest churches in the world and cradle of the Gregorian Chant.
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Saint Maximin's church featuring stained glass windows by French artist Jean Cocteau,
[Kuhn-Mutter M.A. (2012) Vitraux de Jean Cocteau à Metz, féérie de lumière et de couleurs. Eds. Serpenoise. ] and the Sainte-Thérèse-de-l'Enfant-Jésus church built by French architect Roger-Henri Expert.
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the 13th-century Romanesque Knights Templar's chapel, once part of the Templar commandery of Metz, the oldest Templar institution in the Holy Roman Empire.
Civil heritage
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The opera house of Metz Metropole built during the 18th century in Tuscany-influenced neo-Classical style.
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The birthplaces of Paul Verlaine,
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The house of François Rabelais, when he came to Metz—then a free imperial city and a republic—to escape condemnation for heresy by the University of Paris.
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Numerous medieval edifices, including two granary and several Hôtels.
Administrative heritage
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the town square and its surrounding Neoclassical buildings, built by French architect Jacques-François Blondel.
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the Neoclassical courthouse (former Governor's Palace), built by French artist Charles-Louis Clérisseau,
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the Romanesque Revival Station-Palace and Central Post Office, built by German architect Jürgen Kröger.
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the Northeast France defence headquarters (former Kaiser headquarters), built by German architects Schönhals and Stolterfoth in a neo-Flemish style.
Military heritage
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the German's Gate from the 13th century, the last medieval bridge castle in France. The fortification played a crucial defensive role during the siege of Metz in 1552–53 by Emperor Charles V.
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the ruins of the city's dating from ancient history to the 18th century,
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the Fort of Queuleu, also called the Hell of Queuleu (), used by the Germans as a detention and interrogation centre for members of the French Resistance during the Second World War.
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the war memorial, an art deco sculpture by French sculptor Paul Niclausse representing a mother cradling the dead body of her son.
International relations
Metz is a member of the
QuattroPole union of cities, along with
Luxembourg City, Saarbrücken and
Trier (neighbouring countries: Luxembourg, France, and Germany).
Metz has a central place in the
Greater Region and of the economic
SaarLorLux Euregio. Metz is also twin town with:
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Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, from 1957
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Gloucester, England, United Kingdom, from 1967
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Karmiel, Israel, from 1984
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Saint-Denis, Réunion, France, from 1986
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Yichang, China, from 1991
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Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, from 2001
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Kansas City, United States of America, from 2003
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Djambala, Republic of Congo, from 2012
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Nanjing, China, from 2019
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Chernivtsi, Ukraine, from 2022
See also
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Mont Saint-Quentin in Moselle Valley
Notes and references
Sources
External links
