The Centre Pompidou-Metz inspires rejuvenation in French town

Added 25/05/2010

Glass and bottle of white wine

The white, blanketed roof of the recently opened Centre Pompidou-Metz overlooks the sleepy French town of Metz, which has entered into an extensive regeneration project. The Centre Pompidou-Metz will make the town more attractive to tourists and new restaurants and bars have been cropping up to provide extra amenities for foreign visitors.

The Centre Pompidou-Metz has been built to showcase contemporary artwork from the 20th and 21st centuries. The building is an artistic wonder in itself, and has the impression of an elegant marquee with wooden struts criss-crossing along the ceiling in hexagonal patterns. The interior is a maze of vast open spaces and intimate rooms.

Exhibitions in the Centre Pompidou-Metz will be ever-changing and the exhibition space can be rearranged to suit different instillations. Ticket prices are a reasonable 7 € a time and an online booking system will soon be available. What’s more, under 26s and disabled visitors and their carers can get in for free. The opening exhibition will be of the theme ’masterpieces’, which runs until 25 October 2010.

If you fancy a bite to eat during your visit, try the elegant La Voile Blanche restaurant. It was designed with kaleidoscopes in mind, and the space is filled with eye-catching reflective glass panels.

With the train station just a stone’s throw away, it’s easy for foreign visitors to gain access to the Centre Pompidou-Metz via a pedestrianised walkway. A direct train from Paris takes just 1 hour 40 minutes, so you could visit Metz for the day if you are holidaying in Paris. The small Metz-Nancy Lorraine airport is also situated nearby.

The French town of Metz is well worth a visit, with its gothic churches and cloisters and 16th century buildings. The gothic cathedral is one of the tallest in Europe and it boasts stunning stained glass windows.

The covered market in Metz is a must for lovers of French cuisine. It’s also a great place to grab a spot of lunch. Restaurants in Metz make good use of local produce, and the yellow Mirabelle plum is a favourite ingredient in puddings and sauces. The town also has a great selection of pleasant hotels to choose from.

If you a planning a visit to Metz, make sure you buy comprehensive travel insurance and apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). An EHIC will entitle you to state-provided healthcare during your stay in France.

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