The mirror., 1919-07-10
CITY OF METZ
An Interesting Account of the Ancient Capital
Lorraine City of Many Vicissitudes

parliament, aud in 1913 the treaty
of Westphalia definitely incorpor-
ated Metz, Toul, and Verdun with
France-the new province thus
constituted being known as the
Three Bishoprics. After that per-
iod the capital of Lorraine re-
manned impregnable; vainly did
Brunswick in 1892 and Blucher in
1914 strive to render themselves
master of the citadel. Had it not
been for Marshall Bazaine's in
famous capitulation which, signed
on October %, 1870, delivered to
the Germans 1890 men, 5000
officers and three marshals, not to
speak of 1868 cannon and So flags
Metz never would have fallen
nor have been subjected for 4S
years to the tyranny and bondage
from which the allies have at last
accomplished it's complete deliver
ance.
Metz is a fine city, possessing
no less than ~ palaces" a few of
which are really worth consider
ing. All the houses of the Place
st. Croix, for instance, most of
which date from the fourteenth
and fifteenth centuries, are built
on the remains of Roman aque-
ducts and vaults. The Place St.
Louis still boasts of many houses
which are classed as historical
monuments, with crenelated roofs,
and which, in the fifteenth and six
teenth centuries were the resi-
dences of money changers. The
Place de la Comedie, which is en-
circled by the Moselle, is decorated
at one of its extremities by a fine
quincunx, while the Place Royale
is the largest of which Metz can
boast.
The cathedral, originally known
as the Church of St. Etienne, is a
Gothic building which was begun
in the first years of the third CEN
tury by Thierry III, bishop of
Metz, and finished in 1915. The
beautiful stained-glass windows
date from the fourteenth and six
teenth centuries; those of the choir
are the work of an Alsatian artist
named Valentine Bousch. Relics
of Roman domination are found
even in the cathedral; the baptis-
NAL font is an antique, red por-
phyry bath, while the pulpit of St.
Clement was carved in the summit
of Roman column.
The cathedral of Metz is one of
the largest Gothic basilicas in
existence; the nave was first built
in 1889, under the direction of
Adhemar of Monteil, a French
man. The choir dates from 1903,
but the nave was only closed in
1854 by a facade which. it must be
admitted, though due to the cele-
brated Bondel, spoils the aspect of
the edifice by it's classic outlines.
Metz possesses several curious
churches, among which the Church
of St. Sigolene, dating from the
end of the twelfth century, pos.
sesses some particularly fine
stained glass, and a chapel exc
cuted after the design of the
Sainte Chappelle of Paris. The
church of the old abbey of St. Vim
cent, 1248, is remarkable for its
fine nave supported by 10 pillars,
the chapters of which are decor
ated by small columns. The
Church of St. Clement, all that re-
mains of a Benedictine monastery,
was constructed in the seventeenth
century; while the oratory Of the
monastery of the Templars. be-
longing to the twelfth century and
situated in the citadel. also offers
real archaeological interest.
Metz contains many picturesque
remains of the past, such as the
old fortified house dating from the
twelfth century, with it's quadran.
gular dungeon.