Have you ever wondered where the ‘quiche Lorraine’ got its name from? It is so named because it originates in the north eastern region of France called Lorraine . The region shares a border with three other European countries, namely Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg. Not surprisingly then Lorraine has often been at the centre of Europe’s turbulent history. Located on a geographical crossroads since Gallo-Roman times, the city of Metz is more a European city than a strictly French one. This region’s history may have at times been very turbulent, most recently during World War I and the battle of Verdun, but it has also been very colourful, producing a rich cultural heritage. Take, for example, the New Church, illustrated above. This was built between 1901 and 1904 for the area’s protestant community during the annexation of the region by Germany. Modern and striking contrast to the city’s very decorative gothic cathedral, Cathédrale Saint-Étienne (below). The city of Metz is still producing headline-grabbing as well as eye-catching architecture. In May this year the Centre Pompidou-Metz was opened by President Sarkozy at the start of celebrations that lasted five days. Situated on what was once a Roman Amphitheatre, and at a height of 77 metres (a reference to the year the Centre Pompidou in Prais was opened, 1977), Centre Pompidou-Metz is decidedly futuristic

Original Source There’s More to Lorraine than a Good Quiche: The French city of Metz