"METZ" a Metz Travel Page by bugulma

I've been in Metz during one day when I'd been staying in Nancy. I had a train in morning and 50 minutes later I was in Metz. Metz is quite similar to Nancy, old city with many architectural historical buildings but in the same it's felt the region capital spirit. There are wonderful places near of Moselle, the river that flows through the city. The interesting thing, I mentioned it much in Metz, is that there are New Year Trees in the flats and in the streets and it’s an influence of Germany because in Paris and Western part of France it's really very hard to find New Year Trees at all.
Historic men says that the first settlement here dates back to X BC. The first town appeared on this Moselle region in V BC by Celtics. When Caesar conquered the area it had a name Divodorum. Then Roman Empire was destroyed and in VI AD the city was taken under control of Merovingian kingdom till IX century. In Middle Ages the town grew. In 1179 city became republican after elections of mayor. French Kingdom began to attack the city since the middle of XVI century in 1648 Metz became French city. The bordering position of the city was the reason to fortify it and it was said in those times “Fortified places of the kingdom defend their provinces, Metz defends the State”. Metz courageously battled against German troops in 1870-1871, but as a result of the war, the city was annexed to Germany till 1918. During WWII it was new annexation (1940-1944). Nowadays when borders in Europe are symbolic, Metz develops in economic and cultural way and step by step it gives up its military importance.