Metz

Metz lies about 65 km east of Saarbrücken in France's Grand Est region, reached in roughly 50 minutes via the TER cross-border regional train from Saarbrücken Hauptbahnhof to Metz-Ville, or by car in about 50-60 minutes via the A320/A4 motorway. The city's yellow-limestone old town is anchored by the Cathedrale Saint-Etienne, noted for having the largest expanse of stained glass of any French cathedral, including windows by Marc Chagall. A one-day itinerary can begin at the cathedral in late morning, followed by a walk through the Place Saint-Louis arcades and the pedestrian streets around Place d'Armes. Afternoon suits the Centre Pompidou-Metz, the contemporary art museum with its distinctive undulating roof, a 10-15 minute walk from the station, or a stroll along the Moselle river past the Temple Neuf and Ile du Petit-Saulcy. The Marche Couvert covered market near the cathedral is a good stop for a light lunch of regional Lorraine specialties such as quiche Lorraine. Metz suits a half-day or full-day trip year-round, though outdoor riverside walks are most pleasant from spring through autumn. Arriving by late morning leaves time for both the cathedral and the Centre Pompidou-Metz before evening return trains, which run at a similar frequency to the outbound service.