METZ, nets. A town and first-class fortres1 in Alsace-Lorraine, Germany. capital of the Dis trict of Lorraine, situated at the confluence of the Seille with the Moselle, about 11 miles cast of the French frontier and 60 miles by rail south-south west of Treves (Map: Germany, B 4). It is built partly between the two rivers and partly on islands of the Moselle. The streets bear both German and French names. The older section is irregularly constructed and is ancient in appear ance. In the soutImestern portion of the town , is a splendid esplanade with statues of Marshal ' Ney and Emperor William I., and a tine fountain. ' The magnificent, Gothic cathedral was begun in the thirteenth century. It was consecrated in 1546, and is now being restored. It has numerous , fine specimens of stained glass, and is surmounted by a tower 3S7 feet high. The Church of Saint Vincent, a fine Gothie structure of the thirteenth century, the garrison church, and the Church of Saint Constance, with frescoes, are also of architectural interest. Among the secular build ings may be mentioned the palace of justice. the town hall, the theatre, the barracks, and the railway station.
The educational institutions include a gym nasium. a re:list-tulle, a seminary for priests and for teachers, schools of art and music, and a military school. The municipal library of about 60.000 volumes is rich in works relating to the history of letz, and the municipal mu seum contains collections of coins and paintings, I and of antiquities found in the vicinity. Metz has lost somewhat in industrial importance since its occupation by the Germans, the French having withdrawn a large amount of capital. The chief manufactured products are leather and leather goods, arms, hats, artificial flowers, coarse cloth. preserves. ete. The trade is chiefly in the agri. cultural products of the surrounding country.
The city is regarded as one of the best fortified places in Europe. Its fortifications, extending along the Moselle and the Seine, consist of works begun by the French and completed by the Ger mans, and of works built. entirely by the eon querors. Some portions of the old fortifications have also been retained. Population, in 1890. including the garrison of over 20,000 men, 00,186; in 1900, 58,12-1. the deerease being due to the withdrawal if part. of the troops. Over two-thirds of the population are Catholics.
Metz was known to the Gauls as Dim/arum. and in medheval times as .1Ictac. By the Treaty of .Mersen (870) the city fell to East Franck (Inter Germany) and rapidly attained impor- . tame, so that in the thirteenth century it became I a free 'Imperial city. It was here that Charles IV. in 1336 proclaimed the Golden Bull. Metz became involved in many conflicts with Lor raine, and in the period of the Reformation the city was a centre of disturbance. In 1552 it was handed over to Henry II of France, together with Told and Verdun, by the Protestant lords in order to gain French aid against Charles V. (See MIAURICE OF SAXONY.) The latter be sieged the city in vain, and the Peace of West phalia (1648) confirmed France in possession of the city. Metz was henceforth chiefly important as a strong fortress. and played a prominent role in the campaigns of 1814 and 1815 against Napoleon and again in the Franco-German War. As a result of the battles of C'olombey-Nonilly, Mars-la-Tour, and Gravelotte (see FRANCO-GER MAN WAR), the German army occupied the city on October 29, 1870, and the Peace of Frankfort gave Metz to Germany. Consult: Klipffel. Metz, episropale et imperiale (Brussels, 1867) ; Westphale. Gesclochte der Stadt Metz (3 vols., Metz. 1875-7S).