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Metz is a city in the northeast of France, capital of the
Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. It is
located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.
The residents of the city are called Messin(e)(s). Although
historically Nancy was the capital of the duchy of Lorraine,
Metz was chosen as the capital of the newly created region of
Lorraine in the middle of the 20th century. An important
Gallo-Roman city, Merovingian capital of the Austrasia kingdom,
birthplace of the Carolingian dynasty, and one of the oldest
republics of the common era in Europe, Metz possesses a rich
history over 3,000 years. Metz is historically from French
culture, but because of its location, the city has been largely
influenced by close German culture throughout history. Metz is
home to a mishmash of architectural layers, witnessing its
millennium history at the crossroad of different cultures. Thus,
from its Gallo-Roman past, the city conserves vestiges of the
thermae (in the basement of Metz's museums), parts of the
aqueduct and Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains basilica (former Roman
gymnasium). The Saint-Louis square with its arcades, where
currency changers gathered, remains, with a Knights Templar's
chapel, a major symbol of the High Medieval heritage of the city.
The Gothic cathedral, churches, Hôtels, and two remarkable
municipal granaries are depicting the Late Middle Ages. The
Opera-Theater of Metz is a 750-seat opera house on the
Petit-Saulcy island. Designed by Jacques Oger and inaugurated in
1752, it is the oldest opera house working in France and one of
the last possessing its own costume ateliers. The duke of
Belle-Isle described it as "one of the most beautiful France's
opera-theater" at his time. The Metz's opera house features
annually around sixty performances, including plays,
choreographies, and lyric poetry. |
