Metz Citadel

Plan of Metz, left center the fortification walls of the citadel, left below the Musées de la Cour d'Or

For a long time, the citadel of Metz played a key role within the fortress of Metz . The fortress was built in its current form around 1560, shortly after the siege of Metz by the imperial troops of Charles V in 1552. It strengthened the medieval city walls, which withstood the siege of the emperor, but not against the advances in artillery sufficient.

Its construction made it necessary to demolish not only civil but also ecclesiastical buildings, but the military authorities spared religious buildings such as the Templar chapel and the Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains church . From 1676 it was integrated into the fortress system planned by Vauban , which was further expanded by his pupil Louis de Cormontaigne between 1728 and 1749.

today

If the citadel was previously intended for a military purpose, it has recently been converted for civil society: the former armory has been turned into an event hall, the provisions store into a luxury hotel. Today, the Serpenoise Gate only plays a decorative role and the old moats became green spaces like the Esplanade of Metz or the Jardin Boufflers .

Coordinates: 49 ° 6 ′ 49.1 ″  N , 6 ° 10 ′ 16.9 ″  E