3-day itinerary in Moselle in the Land of Three Borders

Itinerary in Moselle – Day 3

10 a.m. – Departure for Metz

Leaving the Domaine de la Klauss, head to Metz, less than an hour’s drive away, for a day of urban discoveries. Stop at Place Saint-Louis, whose arcades recall Northern Italy and the significant Italian immigration to Moselle at the beginning of the century, for a drink in a lively atmosphere, then stroll through the Imperial district and along Avenue Foch, built during the annexation by Germany at the very beginning of the 20th century in astonishing neo-Gothic or Jugendstil styles. A good place to unwind is the Fox Café and its cosy, slightly bric-a-brac atmosphere. For a shopping trip, enter the boutiques and shops on Rue Taison: a dynamic sloping alleyway, famous for its hanging sculpture of the local figure, the Graoully, which houses charming bookstores, wine cellars (from Moselle of course) and the La Bottega print shop.

Lunchtime is approaching, it’s time to go for a stroll in the aisles of the covered market where the colorful stalls line up in the former bishops’ palace, at the foot of the Saint-Etienne Cathedral, one of the tallest in France with its walls in yellow Jaumont stone that sparkle even when the sky is gray. Inside, stained glass windows from the 14th century, but also by Chagall and the South Korean artist Kimsooja, inaugurated in 2022.

12 p.m. – Lunch at Chez Moi restaurant

The establishment, located 10 minutes walk from the city center of Metz, offers a friendly menu: cauliflower velouté, roasted hazelnuts, small croutons and curry oil; tuna tartare, bulgur mint/coriander or pig’s trotters on toast, gratin with parmesan, small veal jus… A cuisine without fuss but of excellent quality. Beautiful outdoor terrace.

At my house
22 Pl. des Charrons, 57000 Metz.
@restaurant_chezmoi

2 p.m. – Go for a boat ride

We set sail from the Metz lake by renting a small boat from La Flottille, before sailing peacefully on the Moselle between the islands of Saulcy and Petit Saulcy. Along the water, admire the Temple Neuf, majestically erected on its islet, then the Place de la Comédie, elegantly arranged around the Opera-Theater, the oldest in France still in operation.

4 p.m. – Go to the museum

Depending on the current exhibition, visit the Centre Pompidou-Metz, a multidisciplinary space dedicated to modern and contemporary art, the local branch of the Parisian museum, built by the Japanese architect Shigeru Ban in the shape of a traditional hat, or enjoy free entry to the Musée municipal de la Cour d’Or, built on former thermal baths, which brings together Gallo-Roman, medieval and Fine Arts collections over more than 6,000 m².