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Lorraine’s rising star
Metz is rebranding itself as a top weekend destination - but there is already plenty to enjoy there
The city of Metz in eastern France is about to step into the limelight, says Angelique Chrisafis in the Guardian. In May next year, the first ever regional outpost of the Pompidou Centre in Paris – the largest modern art collection in Europe – will open there, transforming this "gentle" historic trading post into a "top weekend destination" overnight.
But Metz is well worth a visit in the meantime, too, for its "rich architectural heritage" – including a fine Gothic cathedral – and its superb restaurants. The capital of Lorraine, it has been annexed repeatedly by both France and Germany and has a "fascinating dual identity" as a result, evident in the "dramatic" mixture of building styles on its grand boulevards.
Trains from London via Paris can be booked through Eurostar (0870 518 6186; ). ·
