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MetzFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJump to: navigation, searchFor other uses, see Metz (disambiguation).Metz Commune Municipalit de MetzClockwise from top: Panorama of the Moselle River, Railway Station, Centre Pompidou-Metz, Defensive City Gates, Saint-Stephen Cathedral

FlagCoat of armsNickname(s): The Maid (15th C.); The Unviolated (15th C.); The Green City (20thC.)Metz is located in FranceMetzLocation of Metz within FranceCoordinates: 4907'13?N 610'40?ECoordinates: 4907'13?N 610'40?ECountry FranceRegion LorraineDepartment Blason dpartement fr Moselle.svg MoselleAgglomeration community Metz MetropoleFounded 5th century BCPrefecture Lorraine; Moselle

Government Type Mayor-Council Mayor Dominique Gros (PS)Area Commune 41.94 km2 (16.19 sq mi) Metro 277 km2 (107 sq mi)Highest elevation 358 m (1,175 ft)Lowest elevation 162 m (531 ft)Population (2008) Commune 121,841 Density 2,905/km2 (7,520/sq mi) Metro 225,157Demonym Messin

Time zone CET (UTC+1) Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)ZIP codes 57000; 57050; 57070Dialing code +33 03Website Metz Ville; Metz Metropole

Metz (French pronunciation: [m?s] ( listen); German pronunciation: [m?ts] ( listen)) is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the capital and the prefecture of both the Lorraine region and the Moselle department.[1][2][3][4] Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg,[5] Metz forms a central place of the European Greater Region and the SaarLorLux euroregion.[6]

A Celtic oppidum,[7] an important Gallo-Roman city,[8] the Merovingian capital of the Austrasia kingdom,[9] the birthplace of the Carolingian dynasty,[10] a cradle of the Gregorian chant,[11] and one of the oldest republics of the common era in Europe,[12] Metz has a rich 3,000-year-history.[13] The city has been steeped in Romance culture, but has been strongly influenced by Germanic culture dueto its location and history.[14]

Metz possesses one of the largest Urban Conservation Areas in France,[15] and more than 100 buildings of the city are classified on the Monument Historique list.[16] Because of its historical and cultural background, Metz benefits from its

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designation as French Town of Art and History.[17][18] The city features noteworthy buildings such as the Gothic Saint-Stephen Cathedral,[19][20] the Basilica of Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains,[21] its Station Palace,[22] or its Opera House, theoldest one working in France.[23] Metz is home to some world-class venues including the Arsenal Concert Hall and the Centre Pompidou-Metz museum.

A basin of urban ecology,[24][25] Metz gained its nickname of Green City (French: La Ville Verte),[26] as it has extensive open grounds and public gardens.[27]The historic downtown is one of the largest commercial pedestrian areas in France.[28][29]

A historic garrison town, Metz is the economic heart of the Lorraine region, being specialized in information technology and automotive industries. Metz is hometo the University of Lorraine and a centre for applied research and developmentin the materials sector, notably in metallurgy and metallography,[30] the heritage of the Lorraine region's past in the iron and steel industry.[31]Contents

1 Etymology2 History3 Geography

3.1 Climate4 Demographics

4.1 Population

4.2 Notable people linked to the city5 Law and government5.1 Local law5.2 Administration5.3 City administrative divisions

6 Cityscape and environmental policy6.1 Civilian architecture6.2 Urban ecology6.3 Military architecture

7 Economy8 Culture and contemporary life

8.1 Museums and exhibition halls8.2 Entertainment and performing arts

8.3 Metz in arts8.4 The Graoully dragon as symbol of the city8.5 Cuisine8.6 Celebrations and events8.7 Sports

9 Education10 Transports

10.1 Local transports10.2 Railways10.3 Motorways10.4 Airports10.5 Waterways

11 Main Sights

11.1 Religious heritage11.2 Civil heritage11.3 Administrative heritage11.4 Military heritage

12 International relations13 References

Etymology

In ancient times, the town was known as "city of Mediomatrici," being inhabited

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by the tribe of the same name.[32] After its integration into the Roman Empire,the city was called Divodurum Mediomatricum, meaning Holy Village or Holy Fortress of the Mediomatrici,[33] then it was known as Mediomatrix.[32] During the 5thcentury AD, the name evolved to "Mettis", which gave rise to Metz.[32]HistoryMain article: History of Metz, France

Metz has a recorded history dating back over 3,000 years. Before the conquest ofGaul by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, it was the oppidum of the Celtic Mediomatrici tribe.[7][13] Integrated into the Roman Empire, Metz became quickly one of the principal towns of Gaul until the barbarian depredations and its transfer to the Franks about the end of the 5th century.[13][34][35] Between the 6th and 8th centuries, the city became then the residence of the Merovingian kings of Austrasia.[9] Consecutively to the Treaty of Verdun in 843, Metz became the capital of thekingdom of Lotharingia and was ultimately integrated into the Holy Roman Empiregranting semi-independent status.[13] During the 12th century, Metz rose to thestatus of Republic and the Republic of Metz ruled until the 15th century.[12] With the signature of the Treaty of Chambord in 1552, Metz was passed to the hands of the Kings of France.[13][36] Under the French rule, Metz was selected as capital of the Three Bishoprics and became a strategic fortified town.[13][37] With creation of the departments by the Estates-General of 1789, Metz was chosen ascapital of the Department of Moselle.[13] After the defeat of France during theFranco-Prussian War and according to the Treaty of Frankfurt, the city was annexed into the German Empire, being part of the Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorra

ine and serving as capital of the German Department of Lorraine.[38] Metz remained German until the end of World War I, when it reverted to France.[39] However,after the Battle of France during the Second World War, the city was annexed once more by the German Third Reich.[13] In 1944, the attack on the city by the U.S. Third Army freed the city from German rule and Metz reverted one more time toFrance after World War II.[40][41]

During the 1950s, Metz was chosen to be the capital of the newly created Lorraine region.[42] With the creation of the European Communities and the latter European Union, the city has became a central place of the Greater Region and the SaarLorLux Euroregion.[42]