While strolling through Metz, the north-east French city that's often overlooked in favor of its more famous counterparts, I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. The streets are lined with beautifully preserved 19th-century architecture, including the stunning Germanic Imperial Quarter and the magnificent Catholic Cathedral Saint-Étienne.
My visit began at the Centre Pompidou-Metz, where I was greeted by an extraordinary six-metre-tall sculpture of Felix, a domestic cat created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. The installation is part of the museum's Dimanche Sans Fin (Endless Sunday) exhibition, which brings together over 400 works from Paris's Centre Pompidou. Each piece showcases different interpretations of the concept of a day of rest.
As I explored the exhibition, I was struck by the sheer variety of artworks on display, including sculptures, paintings, and installations that challenged my perceptions of beauty and value. The highlight for me was Cattelan's Shadow, which features his mother hiding in a fridge – a clever take on the Sunday roast tradition.
The Centre Pompidou-Metz itself is an architectural marvel, designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. Its hexagonal lattice structure and white fibreglass roof make it a striking addition to the cityscape. The building's history is just as fascinating, with its origins dating back to a Roman amphitheatre that was once occupied.
One of the highlights of my visit was a tour of Metz's historic old town, where I discovered beautifully preserved stone arcades and stunning Renaissance architecture. The Maison des Têtes on En Fournirue is a particular must-see, with its five intricately carved busts above leaded windows.
Finally, I ended my day with a solar-powered boat trip along the River Moselle, offering breathtaking views of Metz's monuments from a unique perspective. The city's design hotel, Maison Heler, designed by Philippe Starck, is another fascinating attraction – its design is both luxurious and curious, with a story behind it that adds to its charm.
In short, my weekend in Metz was a surprise at every turn. This lesser-known French city has so much to offer, from its stunning architecture to its unique exhibitions and attractions. Whether you're interested in art, history, or simply exploring a new destination, Metz is definitely worth a visit.
My visit began at the Centre Pompidou-Metz, where I was greeted by an extraordinary six-metre-tall sculpture of Felix, a domestic cat created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. The installation is part of the museum's Dimanche Sans Fin (Endless Sunday) exhibition, which brings together over 400 works from Paris's Centre Pompidou. Each piece showcases different interpretations of the concept of a day of rest.
As I explored the exhibition, I was struck by the sheer variety of artworks on display, including sculptures, paintings, and installations that challenged my perceptions of beauty and value. The highlight for me was Cattelan's Shadow, which features his mother hiding in a fridge – a clever take on the Sunday roast tradition.
The Centre Pompidou-Metz itself is an architectural marvel, designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. Its hexagonal lattice structure and white fibreglass roof make it a striking addition to the cityscape. The building's history is just as fascinating, with its origins dating back to a Roman amphitheatre that was once occupied.
One of the highlights of my visit was a tour of Metz's historic old town, where I discovered beautifully preserved stone arcades and stunning Renaissance architecture. The Maison des Têtes on En Fournirue is a particular must-see, with its five intricately carved busts above leaded windows.
Finally, I ended my day with a solar-powered boat trip along the River Moselle, offering breathtaking views of Metz's monuments from a unique perspective. The city's design hotel, Maison Heler, designed by Philippe Starck, is another fascinating attraction – its design is both luxurious and curious, with a story behind it that adds to its charm.
In short, my weekend in Metz was a surprise at every turn. This lesser-known French city has so much to offer, from its stunning architecture to its unique exhibitions and attractions. Whether you're interested in art, history, or simply exploring a new destination, Metz is definitely worth a visit.
The city has so much character, like the Germanic Imperial Quarter - who knew a place could feel that imperial? 
The architecture in Metz is super gorgeous, especially the Catholic Cathedral Saint-Étienne. I loved the Centre Pompidou-Metz too, the sculptures and paintings were crazy! 
And have you ever seen a fridge used as art? 
Cattelan's Shadow was hilarious.
just got back from metz france 
and omg it's like the city has a secret superpower 
i mean the architecture here is literally next level 
especially that centre pompidou-metz building designed by shigeru ban 
and then there's the exhibitions they have there it's like whoa 
400 works from paris at one place? that's insane! 
it's like, no surprise tbh - metz has been slowly becoming a thing in france and its art scene is on fire 
cattelan's shadow piece got like 70k views on instagram alone 
anyways, metz has like, an average of 200k tourists per year which is pretty low compared to other french cities 
but hey, it's still worth a visit if u love art and history and all that jazz 
. And don't even get me started on the Centre Pompidou-Metz – Cattelan's Shadow is literally genius 
. Metz might not be as famous as some other French cities, but trust me, it's worth exploring – there's something for everyone, from art to history to just chillin' by the River Moselle 
And can we talk about the architecture? Shigeru Ban is a mastermind, and Metz's old town is like steppin' back in time. Those stone arcades are to die for! 
. I swear, they need to do some serious revamp if they want people to actually take the site seriously 
.
i mean, japanese architecture is always my fave, shigeru ban never disappoints 
and the old town? wow, so much history and charm 
the maison des têtes is literally my new fave spot, all those intricate details 
anyway, if you haven't been to metz yet, u gotta go ASAP! 
.
And can we talk about that historic old town for a sec? The stone arcades and Renaissance architecture are giving me all the wanderlust vibes 
I'm definitely adding Metz to my bucket list now - it's time to discover some hidden gems in Europe! 
The historic old town is so beautiful too, I need to visit that Maison des Têtes stat! 
And solar-powered boat trip along the River Moselle sounds like the ultimate chill experience