Metz, France

Metz
Commune
Municipalité de Metz
The Saint-Stephen Cathedral, view of the northern façade
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s): The Maid (15th century); The Unviolated (15th century); The Green City (20th century)
Metz Location of Metz within France
Coordinates: 49°07′13″N 6°10′40″E / 49.12028°N 6.17778°E / 49.12028; 6.17778Coordinates: 49°07′13″N 6°10′40″E / 49.12028°N 6.17778°E / 49.12028; 6.17778
Country	France
Region	Great East
Department	Moselle
Arrondissement	Metz
Agglomeration community	Metz Metropole
Founded	5th century BC
Prefecture	Moselle
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
• Mayor	Dominique Gros (PS)
Area
• Commune	41.94 km2 (16.19 sq mi)
• Metro	277 km2 (107 sq mi)
Highest elevation	256 m (840 ft)
Lowest elevation	162 m (531 ft)
Population (2012)
• Commune	119,551
• Density	2,851/km2 (7,380/sq mi)
• Metro	389,851
Demonym(s)	Messin
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
ZIP codes	57000
Dialing code	+33 (0)3
Website	Metz Ville; Metz Metropole

Metz (French pronunciation: [mɛs]; German pronun­cia­tion: [mɛt͡s]) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Great East region. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, the city forms a central place of the European Greater Region and the SaarLorLux euroregion.

Metz has a rich 3,000-year-history, having variously been a Celtic oppidum, an important Gallo-Roman city, the Merovingian capital of the Austrasia kingdom, the birthplace of the Carolingian dynasty, a cradle of the Gregorian chant, and one of the oldest republics in Europe. The city has been steeped in Romance culture, but has been strongly influenced by Germanic culture due to its location and history.