Metz is a historic city that has been the capital of Lorraine for centuries. King of the Franks, Louis the Pious, was buried here, and the city boasts one of the oldest churches in Europe, the Basilica of St. Peter.
In ancient times, there was a Gallic settlement in what is now Metz. It was incorporated into the Roman Empire and quickly became a center of wine production, trade and a mercantile center. After the fall of the Empire, it very quickly became an important Frankish stronghold, at the turn of the 4th and 5th centuries there was a church here. This shows the great importance of Metz at that time. The stronghold grew into an important administrative center, and after the death of Louis I the Pious, it became the capital of the Central French state, and later of the Kingdom of Lorraine.
In the Middle Ages, the city experienced an accelerated development, as evidenced by, inter alia, important buildings preserved to this day. The greatest attractions of Metz include the local monuments, including the monumental St. Stephen. There are stained glass windows made by Marc Chagall in its windows. The Church of Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains is an extremely valuable building, which dates back to 380 and the present appearance dates back to the 10th century.
In Metz, the remains of fortifications erected and extended since the Middle Ages have also been preserved. These include Gate of Germans, Gate of Serpenoise or Fort Queuleu. Within the Old Town, you can also see valuable monuments of residential architecture, such as the Governor's Palace or La Maison des Tetes.
There are also museums in the city, including the Cathedral Treasury, which presents a wonderful collection of sacred art, and the Pompidou-Metz Center, which is a center for popularizing modern art.
