Metz Cathedral

Metz Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Metz) is a Gothic cathedral in Metz, Grand Est, France, renowned for its vast expanses of stained glass. The building is one of the city’s principal landmarks and a major example of French Gothic architecture.

Visitors encounter soaring Gothic vaults, an extensive programme of stained glass spanning medieval to modern periods, and sculptural details across the façade and portals. The cathedral’s windows are a primary attraction and include works by modern artists alongside medieval glass.

Construction took place over several centuries starting in the medieval period, with major building phases from the 13th century onward and additions and restorations through later centuries. The cathedral’s stained glass programme accumulated across these periods and continued into the 20th century.

The cathedral sits in the historic centre of Metz, on the banks of the Moselle River, easily visible from the surrounding city streets.

• Stained glass area: The cathedral contains one of the largest extents of medieval and later stained glass in Europe, covering roughly 6,500 square metres.
• Notable artists: Modern and historic artists are represented in the windows, including notable 20th-century contributions by Marc Chagall.