Metz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Metz
Prefecture and commune
The Saint-Stephen Cathedral, view of the northern façade
Flag Coat of arms
Metz Location in France Show map of France Metz Location in Grand Est Show map of Grand Est
Country	France
Region	Grand Est
Department	Moselle
Arrondissement	Metz
Canton	3 cantons
Intercommunality	CA Metz Métropole
Area 1	41.94 km2 (16.19 sq mi)
Population  (2014)	119,775
• Density	2,855.9/km2 (7,396.7/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	57463 /57000
Elevation	162–256 m (531–840 ft)
Website	Metz Ville
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Metz is a city in France, the prefecture of the Lorraine region and the Moselle department.

History

There was once a city in Roman times, called Divodurum. It was the capital of a Celtic tribe called Mediomatrici. They were called the "Mettis" for short, which is where the name "Metz" comes from. The Romans controlled this city for a long time as an important center in Gallia, but it was captured by Attila the Hun in 451. It was shortly after taken over by the Franks.

Metz remained a very important city, and as the borders changed over the years, it became the capital of Austrasia (from 561 to 751) and of Lotharingia (from 843 to 925), before becoming part of the Holy Roman Empire (from 925). The city was handed to the King of France in 1552. In 1633, it became the capital of a French province called the "Three Bishoprics". The Prussians captured the town in 1870 and Metz once again became part of Germany, until 1918 when it was won back by France. The Germans captured it once more in1940 but France regained it in 1944.

Monuments

In this city, there are a lot of monuments like :

The Opéra-théâtre (1738-1753)

• The Opéra-théâtre, XVIII°s, the oldest theatre of France, it is on an island.

The Place Saint-Louis

• The Place Saint-Louis, XIV°s, it is triangular, with arcaded houses typical of the architecture of Metz.

Cathédrale Saint-Etienne (St. Stephen's Cathedral)

• The Cathédrale Saint-Etienne (St. Stephen's Cathedral), X°s, gothic style, with 6000m² of stained glass.

The Jardin botanique de Metz (Botanical garden of Metz)

• The Jardin botanique de Metz (Botanical garden of Metz), 1866, there are 490.000 flowers every years and there is a greenhouse.

Climate

Metz has an oceanic climate (Cfb in the Koeppen climate classification).

Education

• CentraleSupélec
• Supélec

Twin towns – sister cities

Metz is twinned with:

Images for kids

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  Henry II of France entering Metz in 1552, putting an end to the Republic of Metz.

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  Golden Courtyard museums

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  Street in old city

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  The Centre Pompidou-Metz, a symbol of modern Metz

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  The Music Box, a high-quality concert and recording studio venue dedicated to the modern forms of art music, in the Borny District. The venue has been erected in a cité HLM as an urban renewal effort

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  Water games on the Islands District

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  The Germans' Gate from the 13th century, one of the last medieval bridge castles found in France. Today, an exhibition hall

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  Rue Serpenoise, in the main pedestrian area.

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  Some of the cultural venues in Metz, clockwise from top: the Arsenal, the Golden Courtyard, the Opera House, and the Saint-Jacques square

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  The Museum of the 1870 War and of the Annexion, the only museum in Europe dedicated to the Franco-Prussian War

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  The choir of the Saint Stephen's Cathedral with its extensive stained glass windows, including works of Marc Chagall

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  Basilica of Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains, the oldest church in France and cradle of the Gregorian Chant

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  The Covered Market, home to traditional local food producers and retailers

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  Fireworks on the town square for the celebrations of Saint Nicholas, the Lorraine's patron saint

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  Stade Saint-Symphorien

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  Georgia Tech Lorraine campus.

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  The Mettis hybrid bi-articulated bus

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  The Station Palace in the Imperial District, built 1905-1908 during German rule.

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  The iconic Protestant church Temple Neuf on the Moselle river

See also

In Spanish: Metz para niños