Metz, the strongest fortress of German Lorraine (before 1871 the principal bulwark of the north-eastern frontier of France, and capital of the department of Moselle), stands on the river Moselle at the influx of the Seille, 216 miles E. of Paris. The strength of the place consists in its exterior defences, of which the principal are a cordon of forts, some greatly strengthened and improved since the German annexation, and some entirely new. The cathedral, a Gothic edifice (14th to 16th century), is remarkable for its vast size and its architectural lightness, and has a beautiful spire of open work, 363 feet in height. Of other seven Catholic churches, the most interesting is St Vincent's. There are two Protestant churches and a synagogue. The city has a library, a museum, a military academy, a music school, art and numismatic collections, &c. Apart from tanning and the making of saddles and shoes, there are few industries, though there are several iron-works in the vicinity. The trade is chiefly in wine, brandy, preserved fruits, leather, &c. Pop., which in 1869 was 48,325, had in 1875, by reason of emigration into France, decreased to 37,925, or with garrison, 45,856; (1890) 59,723, including a large garrison. The Protestants are less than half as numerous as the Catholics. Metz, known to the Romans as Divodurum, was afterwards called Mettis (corrupted from Mediomatrici, the name of the people), hence the present form. Under the Franks it was the capital of Austrasia, and in 870 passed to the empire; it was afterwards made a free city of the empire. In 1552 it was treacherously taken possession of by the French; and, although Charles V. besieged the place from October 1552 to January 1553, they kept it till it was formally ceded to them in 1648. The fortifications, already strong, were completely reconstructed by Vauban in 1674; they were added to at various dates, and after 1830 thoroughly restored. In August 1870 Bazaine was compelled to retire with his army into Metz, which after a long siege was taken by the Germans (see FRANCE, Vol. IV. p. 782); by the treaty of Frankfurt it was annexed to Germany.
See histories of the town by Coster (1871) and Westphal (3 vols. 1875-77); and the account of the warlike operations of 1870 by the German staff (1872). Compare also BAZAINE.