Whatever your interests, whenever you're visiting, Metz has something to offer. Here's our top five things to see and do in "La Ville Verte"
1) La Cathedrale Saint-Etienne
The cathedral was built in between the 13th and 16th centuries and has the biggest collection of stained glass on display in the world. It opens daily at 8am and it closes at 6pm in the winter and 7pm in the summer. The cathedral is situated in Place Jean-Paul II. Admission is free, for more information go to http://www.cathedrale-metz.fr/Langue.html
2) Montgolfiades Metz
Since the 1990's Metz has held a hot air balloon festival every August. At the first festival there were just 20 balloons, but now it is one of the most popular balloon festivals in France with over 10,000 visiting. Organisers promise you'll see a thousand and one colours in the sky.
Since the 1990's Metz has held a hot air balloon festival every August. At the first festival there were just 20 balloons, but now it is one of the most popular balloon festivals in France with over 10,000 visiting. Organisers promise you'll see a thousand and one colours in the sky.
3) Centre Pompidou-Metz
The original Pompidou Centre opened in Paris in 1977 and the Metz centre was opened in 2010. It is one of the most visited French attractions outside Paris and hosts exhibitions and performances in its three galleries, a theatre and auditorium. You can also get something to eat at their restaurant. For details on the latest exhibitions visit http://www.centrepompidou-metz.fr/en/welcome
The original Pompidou Centre opened in Paris in 1977 and the Metz centre was opened in 2010. It is one of the most visited French attractions outside Paris and hosts exhibitions and performances in its three galleries, a theatre and auditorium. You can also get something to eat at their restaurant. For details on the latest exhibitions visit http://www.centrepompidou-metz.fr/en/welcome
4) Shop 'til you drop!
There are plenty of places to shop in Metz. You can buy vintage accessories or fashion forward clothing on Rue des Jardins before collecting everything you'll need for a picnic at the covered market which is one of the oldest in France. In August the streets become one huge bargain hunt for the Grande Braderie sale while every December Metz hosts a Christmas Market that is popular with tourists and the local people (Metz Fact: people from Metz are known as 'les Messins')
5) Cafe Culture
After all the sight-seeing and shopping you'll need to put your feet up and relax. The best way to do that in France is to grab a seat on a pavement cafe and watch the world go buy. Metz has lots of cafes and bars where you can sample local specialties like Quiche Loraine, Pate and Boulet de Metz - biscuits filled with ganache and covered in marzipan, caramel and chocolate. Place de la Chambre is where you'll find the best local restaurants.
There are plenty of places to shop in Metz. You can buy vintage accessories or fashion forward clothing on Rue des Jardins before collecting everything you'll need for a picnic at the covered market which is one of the oldest in France. In August the streets become one huge bargain hunt for the Grande Braderie sale while every December Metz hosts a Christmas Market that is popular with tourists and the local people (Metz Fact: people from Metz are known as 'les Messins')
5) Cafe Culture
After all the sight-seeing and shopping you'll need to put your feet up and relax. The best way to do that in France is to grab a seat on a pavement cafe and watch the world go buy. Metz has lots of cafes and bars where you can sample local specialties like Quiche Loraine, Pate and Boulet de Metz - biscuits filled with ganache and covered in marzipan, caramel and chocolate. Place de la Chambre is where you'll find the best local restaurants.