Gare De Metz, Metz

Next stop was to see the Gare de Metz, the city train station, which we didn’t have time to stop and appreciate when we arrived. The city's train station is preserved as an historic monument and was also built during Metz's German era.

It's a wondrous building but also politically-charged, ordered by Wilhelm Il and designed in the Rhenish romanesque revival style. Rumour has it that Wilhelm himself drew up the plans for the clock-tower, which has a sculpture of the Frankish knight Roland to represent German imperial protection over the city. The station was designed to be able to move large numbers of troops quickly, and its arrivals hall resembles a Holy Roman palace. Another fun fact is that the SNCF offices are now in Wilhelm Il's private apartments.

Compared to our basic train stations at home, many stations over here have been amazing historic buildings that make going to the train station part of our city touring.Read more