Discover Metz by Hire Car
Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region deep in northeastern France.
In an area of just under 42 square kilometres, the estuary between the Seille and Moselle rivers is currently home to around 125,000 inhabitants.
A hire car will give you the independence you need to explore the city and its surroundings.
History of Metz
As early as about 3000 BC, the first people settled in Metz. Under the name of Götterburg, a tribe of Celts founded the former town, which became one of the most important cities in Gaul due to its strategic location. By the second century, the population had already grown to over 40,000 people, making Metz larger than Lutetia, now Paris.
Over many centuries, Metz developed into a Christian stronghold with numerous churches and monasteries. Even today, imposing examples bear witness to this period.
Sights in Metz
One of the most interesting buildings in the city is the Saint-Étienne Cathedral. Built between 1220 and 1520, the Gothic cathedral is one of the most beautiful and massive in all of France. Some of the fascinating stained glass windows of the clerical building, which were however only installed later, were created by the master of colour and transparency, Marc Chagall. Also unique is the Romanesque church of Saint-Maximin, dating from the 12th to 18th centuries, in the Outre-Seille district. Of particular note here are the stained glass windows by Jean Cocteau, made around 1960.
In the 17th century, Metz was finally converted into a fortress by the famous field marshal and master builder Vauban. Unchanged in the city’s fortifications, however, was the 13th-century ‘German Gate’, the ‘Porte des Allemands’, which can still be admired in Metz today. Further evidence of German influence can be found in the Quartier Imp?rial, a Wilhelminian-influenced district from the early 20th century.
Metz is ideal to explore by hire car.
hire car price comparison Metz
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