St Etienne Cathedral Metz

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Metz Cathedral

St Etienne Cathedral
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Standing in the centre of Metz in Place d'Armes, is what is considered as one of the most beautiful Cathedral's in France - St. Etienne Cathedral.

It is a stunning Gothic building built between 13th-16th Centuries of yellow sandstone and boasts the highest steeple in France. It also has 6,500m2 of stained glass windows produced by some of the world most famous glassmakers - Herman de Munster, Theobald de Lixheim, Valentin Bousch and Marc Chagall. Because of all the stained glass it is also called the Good Lord's Lantern.

It was built originally by joining together two perpendicular churches - the nave of Saint Etienne, (built in the 13th century) was adjoined to the north side of an older Roman church the Notre-Dame-la-Ronde. The transept and choir dates from the early 16th Century. The porch and doorway which lead into the south aisle under the Tour de Mutte (the Mutte being a large bell dating from 1605) are also more modern additions.

Facing Place d'Armes and set at an angle to the main building, is the Portail de la Vierge (C. 1240). With old reliefs in the porch, in the tympanum and on the left-hand lintel (procession of the Apostles). The reliefs on the right-hand lintel though are copies and are based on the originals by the Master of Naumburg. The originals were unfortunately damaged and are now in the cathedral workshops being restored.

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