Cathedral de Metz (or St. Etienne Cathedral, or St. Stephen Cathedral)

Whatever name you use, the Cathedral de Metz (nicknamed, “God’s Lantern) is one of the most ornate we’ve seen on our tour. The cathedral stands where the shrine of Saint Stephen was erected, the only structure left standing after the raid by Attila the Hun. A basilica was built in 984-1040 dedicated to St. Stephen and construction didn’t stop until the last stained glass windows were installed in 1968.

The nave of the cathedral is one of the highest in the world measuring ~136′ tall with the exterior spire at ~290′ tall. The structure is built from yellow Jaumont limestone and is supported by flying buttresses. The cathedral interior is ~405′ long.

The stained glass comes from many artists, Marc Chargall, Valentin Bousch, Theobald of Lixheim and my favorite, Hermann von Munster. Yep, Herman Munster! And you thought he only drove a cool car and had a hot, witchy wife! OK, different guy. This Hermann created the “Rose window”  at the Western end of the cathedral.

We toured the crypt (4EU) that displays several models of churches around France, artifacts from ancient sites in Metz and a funerary room with one of the oldest altars in France. This tour also included the church Treasurer where the “Cope of Charlemagne” is housed. The significance of this cope (a long vestment, cloak) is that it was found by General Patton’s men in a Bavarian salt mine at the end of WW2 and returned to the church. Monuments Men – watch the movie for more info.

 

Done with the church, on to Bastogne tomorrow.  Hermann Munster, who would have guessed. Closing with a few exterior pics of the church and my favorite, Gargoyles!