The 10 addresses that make Metz

Metz's reputation as a garrison town and industrial hub has long kept it off the tourist map, but all you have to do is set foot in the city to dispel these preconceptions. The capital of Lorraine is one of the most seductive cities in France, with its rivers and islands, 500 hours of gardens and paths along the Moselle and Seille rivers. Add to this its pedestrian center and medieval streets, one of France's most beautiful cathedrals, the first regional branch of the Centre Pompidou and young chefs renewing its gastronomic heritage, and you've got one of the coolest, most dynamic cities around. Discover it as soon as possible.

Where to stay in Metz?

Hôtel La Citadelle

This hotel is located in the heart of the former food store within the city's military walls, a magnificent edifice built in the 15th century. Restored with a beautiful blend of stone, glass and steel, it houses 78 rooms and suites and one of Metz's finest restaurants, La Réserve, led by chef Aurélien Person, who celebrates local recipes and local produce. All refreshed by a perfect selection of Moselle wines.

• Double room from 166 euros. 5 avenue Ney 57000 Metz
• https://all.accor.com

Villa Camoufle

Adjacent to the Imperial Quarter and transformed into a guest house, this 1900s villa houses two rooms and a suite of hushed luxury, decorated with noble materials - antique wood, leather and ironwork by Lorraine craftsmen. Equally refined, the dining room, where breakfast is served, and the lounge, warmed by a fireplace, open onto the villa's large garden. There's also a sauna and a fitness room, where you can book a session with a trainer. Last but not least, the warm welcome of the owner, who welcomes her guests as friends.

• Double room from 230 euros. 13 Rempart Saint-Thiebault 57000 Metz
• www.villacamoufle.fr

Where to have lunch, dinner or a drink in Metz?

Brasserie des Arts et Métiers

Here's the review of this 1 toque Gault&Millau restaurant: "A fine brasserie that brings people together, not just because of the variety of the menu, but because a real chef is at the helm and classic dishes are always well handled. " Read more

• Rating : 12,5/20
• 2bis rue Gambetta 57000 Metz

Derrière

Here's the review of this 1-toque Gault&Millau restaurant: "A pleasant bistro on a quiet street in the center of town. The welcome is cordial, the plates polished, from good products, with interesting personal ideas and a respect for traditional recipes. " Read more

• Rating : 11,5/20
• 17 rue de la Chèvre 57000 Metz

Bistros in the old town

In the old town, rue Sainte-Marie and rue du Faisan are the meeting places for Metz locals, who come here every evening to enjoy a drink on the touch-touch terraces. Our favorites? La Quille, one of Metz's best wine bars, with the best local vintages, which you can enjoy facing the cathedral; the very cosy Bazaar Sainte-Marie, where you can enjoy a glass of wine on the terrace.s Bazaar Sainte-Marie and Bistrot de G, where you can extend your aperitif with a few homemade specialties.

• La Quille 27 Place de la Chambre. 57000 Metz
• Bazaar Sainte-Marie, 4 rue Sainte-Marie. 57000 Metz
• Bistrot de G 9 rue du Faisan. 57000 Metz

What to do in Metz

Saint Etienne Cathedral and the old town, up to Place Saint-Louis

Just a stone's throw from the market, the sober Place d'Armes is the perfect setting for Saint-Etienne's Cathedral, which celebrates its 800th anniversary in 2021. Unquestionably one of the most beautiful cathedrals in France, it is a masterpiece of flamboyant Gothic art, with a dizzyingly high nave and some 6500m2 of stained glass, some of it by Chagall. After discovering the archaeological collections of the nearby Cour d'Or museum, head for the delightful Place Saint-Louis, with its triangular shape, Italianate facades and terraces that have become the HQ of the people of Metz. In nearby Rue des Huiliers, don't miss Le Petit Français, an excellent wine shop offering regular tasting evenings.

• Cathédrale Saint-Etienne, place d'Armes 57000 Metz
• Musée de la Cour d'Or, 2 rue du Haut-Poirier
• Le Petit Français 1 rue des huiliers. 57000 Metz

The covered market

We love its XVIIIᵉ halles and their imposing frameworks, which house one of the region's richest markets every day (except Sundays and Mondays). Local fruit and vegetables (magnificent mirabelles in season), meats and charcuterie from Maison Nicolas (Europe's largest butchery and one of the most renowned), fruit tarts and Madeleines de Commercy from boulangerie JDS, local cheeses and wines from Mauricette. Not forgetting more exotic corners like Tienda Sudamericana, a South American grocery store that prepares fajitas and empanadas every morning, to take away or eat in.

From the ramparts to the Outre-Seille district

During the Middle Ages, the city - disputed by France and the Germanic Empire - sought to protect itself. It built a long wall, part of which is still visible today, along the banks of the Moselle and Seille rivers. Called the Chemin des Corporations, this bucolic stroll allows you to admire the incredible crenellated towers of the wall, as well as the Porte des Allemands, the gateway to the town. Follow the path to the still-secret Outre-Seille district, with its small squares, medieval alleyways and the Saint-Maximin church, illuminated by Jean Cocteau's stained-glass windows. And don't miss the craftsmen's workshops - embroiderers, framers, cabinetmakers - that give this district a timeless charm.

The Imperial Quarter

Built between 1870 and 1918, when Metz was under German domination, this district offers a striking contrast with the medieval streets of the old town. Built at the instigation of Kaiser Wilhelm II, this "neue stadt" is absolutely fascinating for the majesty of its Jugenstil, neo-Renaissance and neo-Bauhaus buildings.o-renaissance or neo-baroque buildings on the Avenue Foch, from the spectacular Hôtel des Postes in pink Vosges sandstone to the Renaissance-style Hôtel des Arts et Métiers. The highlight of this architecture lesson is the SNCF train station (considered by many to be the most beautiful in France), a veritable masterpiece with its bas-reliefs, stained-glass windows, statues and imposing proportions - 300m long and a 42m-high clock tower.

Center Pompidou Metz

Designed by the architectural duo Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines, this offshoot of the Paris museum, inaugurated in 2010, has become one of France's major cultural hubs in the space of fifteen years. This success is due to the splendour of the building, a veritable work of art in itself with its immense translucent envelope covering it, revealing the 1600 beams that form its framework. It's also due to its exhibition spaces, unique in Europe for their sheer volume, enabling monumental works of art to be presented to the public. The museum has already welcomed several million visitors, attracted by its ambitious programming and the diversity of its events - concerts, lectures, meetings with artists, workshops for children... Also not to be missed are the excellent restaurants - Umé, with its contemporary brasserie feel, and Yosora, a more gastronomic table offering an exclusive experience inspired by Japanese traditions.

• 1 Parvis des Droits de l'Homme 57020 Metz
• www.cent repompidou-metz.fr

An extra escape in the village of Scy-Chazelles

Nestled on Mont Saint-Quentin, just a stone's throw from Metz, this old winegrowers' village is full of charm, with its washhouses, narrow streets and beautiful views of the city below. We come here for the serenity that infuses the village, to visit the house of Robert Schuman (founding father of Europe), now an exhibition space, and to discover the surrounding vineyards, starting with Domaine Molozay Château de Vaux, which produces excellent organic wines.

• Maison de Robert Schuman, 8-12 rue Robert Schuman 57160 Scy-Chazelles
• Molozay château de Vaux 21 rue du Moulin 57160 Scy-Chazelles