Metz Cathedral (Saint-Étienne de Metz)

The Cathedral of Saint-Étienne in Metz holds the distinction of possessing the largest area of stained glass of any cathedral in the world, with 6,500 square metres of coloured glass covering almost the entire wall surface of the nave, transepts, and choir in France's Grand Est region. Construction extended over eight centuries from the 13th to the 20th century, and the glass spans a similarly vast range: windows by Hermann von Münster from the 13th century sit alongside panels commissioned from Marc Chagall in the 1960s and 1970s, giving the interior a layered chromatic intensity unlike any other Gothic cathedral. The Chagall windows, concentrated in the ambulatory and north transept, glow in the deep blues and greens he favoured, depicting Old Testament scenes. Other windows by Théobald of Lixheim (15th century), Valentin Bousch (16th century), and Roger Bissière (20th century) fill the nave and transept. At midday in summer, when sunlight is most direct, the interior fills with a shifting polychrome light that falls across the stone nave floor, the choir stalls, and the 41-metre-high vaulting above. Entry is free, making this one of the best-value major cathedrals in France. The building stands on Place d'Armes at the heart of Metz's old town, 10 minutes' walk from Metz railway station and 5 minutes from Centre Pompidou-Metz. Combining both in a single cultural day is straightforward.