Metz Travel Guide

Metz is a small but really pretty city; they have a lot of gardens and very nice old buildings. In the Tourist office you may find the audio guided tours of the town, like in the museums …you can visit St. Stephen cathedral ... a lot of stained glass, some of them (I remember two...) made by Marc Chagall…France's oldest theatre is here. Everything in city center is easily accessible on foot, and much of the main downtown area is pedestrians…sit in the cafes in Place St. Jacques, is a beautiful place. Walk around to discover the city in the night, all the monuments and buildings are lighted in a special way. You can stay at Metropole Hotel, very clean and quiet hotel, nice rooms, helpful and friendly staff … the hotel is located near the Metz train station, one of the most beautiful train stations in France (looks like a cathedral)… during the summer, they have an amazing flowers arrangement.

If you come from Saarbrücken in Germany, this is paradise! :) if you don't come from there, it's also a paradise, especially if the general atmosphere of a city is very important to you. It has lots of beautiful architecture, the gothic cathedral is really impressive for example. The city is split in two parts by the Moezel (you might know it from the white wine), with arch bridges (or how do you say this in english) connecting the different parts. In between both there's a little island with a small but very nice church on it. we visited it around the end of december, and at that time a series of free orgue concerts were given weekly or daily (i don't remember very well) in that church. I think we were there at Saint Nicholas day, and there was also a big parade through the city that day, and free local folk concerts.

Through the city center, you can spot a number of awfull looking young men and women. But don't be scared. From what I understand, city hosts a homeless culture.

I said like that becasue they are not smelly, poor, annoying guys... no. They hang out with their dogs in same places, greet each other, gather at their favorite places, drink and laugh, take advantages of free shows.

I mean the same guy who helped you when you got lost in the city, can next day beg for money to you and in other day can dance next to you in a free student concert and you can meet with him again in supermarket, paying with coins for his beer and tomate juice.