Metz

For other uses, see Metz (disambiguation).

Metz
Prefecture and commune
Clockwise from top: overview of city centre (with Cathedral of Saint Stephen), Imperial Quarter, Temple Neuf, Germans' Gate, Opéra-Théâtre (place de la Comédie)
Clockwise from top: overview of city centre (with Cathedral of Saint Stephen), Imperial Quarter, Temple Neuf, Germans' Gate, Opéra-Théâtre (place de la Comédie)
Flag of Metz
Flag
Coat of arms of Metz
Coat of arms
Location of Metz
Map
Metz is located in France
Metz
Metz
Metz is located in Grand Est
Metz
Metz
Coordinates: 49°07′13″N 6°10′40″E / 49.12028°N 6.17778°E / 49.12028; 6.17778
CountryFrance
RegionGrand Est
DepartmentMoselle
ArrondissementMetz
Canton3 cantons
IntercommunalityMetz Métropole
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) François Grosdidier[1]
Area
1
41.94 km2 (16.19 sq mi)
 • Urban
308.8 km2 (119.2 sq mi)
 • Metro
1,877.2 km2 (724.8 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
120,874
 • Density2,900/km2 (7,500/sq mi)
 • Urban
 (2018[3])
285,930
 • Urban density930/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
 • Metro
 (2018[3])
367,851
 • Metro density200/km2 (510/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Messin (masculine)
Messine (feminine)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
57463 /57000
Elevation162–256 m (531–840 ft)
WebsiteMetz Ville
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
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Metz (/ˈmɛts/ METS, French: [mɛs] ⓘ, Latin: Divodurum Mediomatricorum, then Mettis) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand Est region.[4][5] Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany and Luxembourg,[6] the city forms a central place of the European Greater Region and the SaarLorLux euroregion.[7]

Metz has a rich 3,000-year history,[8] having variously been a Celtic oppidum, an important Gallo-Roman city,[9] the Merovingian capital of Austrasia,[10] the birthplace of the Carolingian dynasty,[11] a cradle of the Gregorian chant,[12] and one of the oldest republics in Europe.[13] The city has been steeped in French culture, but has been strongly influenced by German culture due to its location and history.[14]

Because of its historical, cultural and architectural background, Metz has been submitted on France's UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.[15][16][17] The city features noteworthy buildings such as the Gothic Saint-Stephen Cathedral with its largest expanse of stained-glass windows in the world,[18][19] the Basilica of Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains being the oldest church in France,[20] its Imperial Station Palace displaying the apartment of the German Kaiser,[21] or its Opera House, the oldest one working in France.[22] Metz is home to some world-class venues including the Arsenal Concert Hall and the Centre Pompidou-Metz museum.

A basin of urban ecology,[23][24] Metz gained its nickname of The Green City (French: La Ville Verte),[25] as it has extensive open grounds and public gardens.[26] The historic city centre is one of the largest commercial pedestrian areas in France.[27][28]

A historic garrison town, Metz is the economic heart of the Lorraine region, specialising in information technology and automotive industries. Metz is home to the University of Lorraine, Georgia Tech Lorraine, and a centre for applied research and development in the materials sector, notably in metallurgy and metallography,[29] the heritage of the Lorraine region's past in the iron and steel industry.[30]

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021" (in French). The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference compar was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Official website of the prefecture of Moselle" (in French). Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  5. ^ "Official website of the Moselle department" (in French). Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  6. ^ Says J.M. (2010) La Moselle, une rivière européenne. Eds. Serpenoise. ISBN 978-2-87692-857-2 (in French)
  7. ^ "Official website of the Greater Region" (in French). Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  8. ^ Bour R. (2007) Histoire de Metz, nouvelle édition. Eds. Serpenoise. ISBN 978-2-87692-728-5 (in French)
  9. ^ Vigneron B. (1986) Metz antique: Divodurum Mediomatricorum. Eds. Maisonneuve. ISBN 2-7160-0115-4 (in French)
  10. ^ Huguenin A. (2011) Histoire du royaume mérovingien d'Austrasie. Eds. des Paraiges. ISBN 979-10-90185-00-5 pp. 134,275 (in French)
  11. ^ Settipani C. (1989) Les ancêtres de Charlemagne. Ed. Société atlantique d'impression. ISBN 2-906483-28-1 pp. 3–49 (in French)
  12. ^ Demollière C.J. (2004) L'art du chantre carolingien. Eds. Serpenoise. ISBN 2-87692-555-9 (in French)
  13. ^ Roemer F. (2007) Les institutions de la République messine. Eds. Serpenoise. ISBN 978-2-87692-709-4 (in French)
  14. ^ Weyland A. (2010) Moselle plurielle: identité complexe & complexes identitaires. Eds. Serpenoise. ISBN 978-2-87692-748-3 (in French)
  15. ^ "World Heritage Site List of France, UNESCO Official Website" (HTLM). Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  16. ^ "Presentation of the specificity of Metz for the UNESCO World Heritage Site enlistment, UNESCO Official Website" (HTLM) (in French). Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  17. ^ "Presentation of the specificity of Metz for the UNESCO World Heritage Site enlistment, Official Website of the Municipality of Metz" (PDF) (in French). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  18. ^ "Metz Cathedral webcam". Archived from the original (VIDEO) on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  19. ^ Collectif (2009) Monumental 2009 – semestriel 1. Coll. Monumental. Eds. Guides archeologiques de la France. ISBN 978-2-7577-0055-6 (in French)
  20. ^ Delestre X. (1988) Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains (Metz – Moselle): de l'époque romaine à l'époque gothique. Eds. Guides archeologiques de la France. ISBN 978-2-85822-439-5 (in French)
  21. ^ Schontz A. (2008) La gare de Metz. Eds. Serpenoise. ISBN 978-2-87692-833-6 (in French)
  22. ^ Masson G. (2002) L'Opéra-théâtre de Metz. Ed. Klopp, Gerard. ISBN 978-2-911992-38-4 (in French)
  23. ^ Pelt J.M. (1977) L'Homme re-naturé. Eds. Seuil. ISBN 2-02-004589-3 (in French)
  24. ^ "INA Archive (1977) Samedi et demi, interview with Jean-Marie Pelt. Prod. Antenne 2" (VIDEO) (in French). Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  25. ^ "Metz magazine (2007) 322:16-17" (PDF) (in French). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  26. ^ "Official municipal website, Public garden map of Metz" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  27. ^ Hamel S. and Walter J. (2000) Metz. Ecologie urbaine et convivialité. Ed. Autrement. ISBN 978-2-86260-343-8 (in French)
  28. ^ "Official Metz municipality website, Agenda 21" (PDF) (in French). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  29. ^ "University of Lorraine. Research, innovation, and valorisation" (PDF) (in French). Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  30. ^ Gendarme R. (1985) Sidérurgie en Lorraine, les coulées du futur. Eds. Presses Universitaires de Nancy. ISBN 2-86480-224-4 (in French)