We arrive in Metz, France early Sunday morning and are able to park for free right by the Saint- Etienne Cathedral. The town is quiet, a few tourist are out, the organ is playing for the mass service. Since it is Sunday most shops are closed, except a few tourist stores. For us, it is a great morning to walk around and explore Metz without a lot of tourist. The tourist information center is open and we grab a map to get started. We find a local market on our way for a few breakfast snacks to hold us over until lunch time. The cathedral is amazing and we plan to go inside later in the afternoon to not disturb the Sunday service. A little history, the cathedral was built between the 13th and 16th centuries. It was created by bringing together the Bishop's Church, the cathedral, the canon's church, and Notre-Dame-la-Ronde, which explains its unusual plan. The tallest nave of this cathedral is 42 meters, making it one of the tallest Gothic buildings in Europe. As we were driving into the city we could see it from miles away.
This small town is easy to navigate and we are able to walk to all major tourist sights. Crossing the river we find the Temple Neuf. It was built in the 20th century with a medieval look. The temple was designed for a civil community and remains a place of worship. It is used to host cultural events and has a wonderful garden surrounding the building.
Saint Maximin church built between the 12th and 15th centuries still has the stained glass windows made by famous French artist, Jean Cocteau in the 1960's.
The Porte des Allemands, nicknamed the "German Door" is named after the Teutonic knights who had a hospital nearby. This medieval remains were built between the 13th and 16th centuries. It reminds us our small town of Amberg with the two large towers as you enter the walled medieval town.
The centerpiece of the Nouvelle Ville was built in accordance with the wishes of Kaiser Wilhelm II in the early 20th Century. This functioning train station has dimensions that were intended to allow easy transportation of goods and civilians and facilitate the movement of troops, equipment, and animals in record time of 24 hours. All of the cutting edge techniques of the time were used in its making.
The arsenal was completed under Napolean III reign in 1864. The great hall is known for its acoustics and today is used as a music hall that hosts multiple types of venues. Saint Pierre-aux-Nonnains Church is one of the oldest monuments in Metz, an architectural reminder of 2000 years of history. Today Saint Pierre-aux-Nonnains is part of the Arsenal complex and offers a magnificent setting for concerts, conferences, and exhibitions. So much history, excellent french cuisine, and easy to walk around the town for a day with beautiful weather.
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