The Graoully, Saint Nicholas, and the Easter Bunny are among some of the emblematic legends in Metz and Lorraine. But do you know the legends of Saint Arnould, Mademoiselle de Turmel or even Pierre Perrat...
A monstrous dragon with a ferocious appetite wiped out the youth of Metz in the 3rd century. Saint Clément saved the city from the monster, and the snakes which lived with him in the old Roman amphitheatre, by drowning them in the Seille.
The churches saw some dark times after the French Revolution. While some churches were transformed, others were destroyed, and “Les Grand-Carmes” church did not escape this reality. Their strong and robust Jaumont stones became so lucrative that Mr. Carmes, a short entrepreneur, ended up biting off more than he could chew!
Charlemagne’s grandfather, Saint Arnould took charge of the bishopric after miraculously finding his ring that had been thrown into the Moselle.
Metz cathedral has illuminated the city for 800 years. There are stories hidden behind every detail. Today, we stop in front of the statue of Wilhelm II. Located on the western doorway of the building, this sculpture tells the story of an eventful period in Metz history.
The construction of a cathedral is such an extraordinary work, that we often see the work of the Devil. So its architect, Pierre Perrat, sold his soul to the devil for success in his Metz masterpiece. His soul was saved: he rests in the cathedral for eternity where we can discover his epitaph.
This story explains the building of the aqueduct between Jouy-aux-Arches and Ars-sur-Moselle by taking it back to biblical times, after the flood where Noah and his arc saved not only god’s animals, but also his family.
Rue Rabelais, Maison Rabelais... Metz celebrates this famous physician-writer in many ways, known for his taste for words, jokes, and good food!
But do you know how he arrived in Metz, and what he dedicated his time to during his visit between 1946 and 1947?
It’s one of the busiest roads in Metz city centre to reach the cathedral, Rue Taison or Sainte-Croix hill. But this old Roman road, known as Decumanus Maximus, was also a strategic place.
Who lived there, who worked there?
In 1744, Louis XV, nicknamed “the beloved”, came to Metz with his favourite, Madame de Châteauroux. After a lovely evening at the Duc de Richelieu’s house, the King spent the night in charming company, and... was discovered in the morning “spitting out the blood of exhaustion”. A little while later, Queen Marie Leszcynska arrived in Metz and got rid of the curious wooden construction between Saint-Arnould Abbey and the Hôtel de la Haute Pierre, residences that had welcomed the King and his favourite some time before. One week later, Louis XV was saved. Miracle or reality?
The cathedral's bell, known as Mademoiselle de Turmel, is the subject of a legend. One night, Anne Turmel waited in vain for her fiancé. Remembering the young man who was killed by bandits, and to avoid night attacks, a bell was cast to declare a curfew at ten o'clock in the evening. It’s said that Mademoiselle de Turmel threw her engagement ring into the liquid bronze of the bell...
At the tip of the coast, between the villages of Ancy and Gorze, there’s a very distinctive cross. This cross is dedicated to Saint Clément, who saved Metz from the monstrous Graoully. Generations of Metz country dwellers have made their pilgrimage there to worship it.
It’s largely thanks to this highly symbolic place that Commander Lalance decided to visit the surrounding areas.
This legend is about Love with a capital “L”, but also vengeance. One kingdom, two lords, one young woman called Isabelle and the wedding which didn’t go to plan. As soon as jealousy rears its ugly head, passion can quickly sour...
Once upon a time in Corny, there was an old woman called Marguerite Frioule. This woman, both strange and discreet, with a black cat and a horned goat, was feared by the village residents. But why? Was she a witch? What happened to her? Was she okay?
The small town of Jouy-aux-Arches, on the banks of the Moselle and located in the south west of Divodorum (now known as Metz), still has the remains of an imposing aqueduct. This work, which at the time supplied water to the thermal baths, has also been the setting of an unusual story! The world works in mysterious ways, they say!
Mont Saint-Quentin is an emblematic place at the crossroads of the Vaux, Scy-Chazelles, Sainte-Ruffine and Lessy towns, and has played many essential roles throughout time. This ancient “hill” is now part of a Natura 2000 site of Metz country grasslands, and every summer you can even come across small herds of...
Meanness is often uncontrollable. Théophile was in love with Lisa, and wanted to know if this love would be the most beneficial to him. He decided to find out by secretly watching his future wife when she had to go and work the land. In order to do this, he disguised himself as a scarecrow. He was very quickly reassured. But at that very moment, a fly came and tickled his nose. The young man couldn't help but sneeze! Lisa was taken by surpirse and felt tricked, and this pushed her into the arms of another man. Being mean is not a crime but can, from one day to the next, turn into a nightmare!
A long time ago, every night in the village of Woippy, a goblin known as the Sotré was moving objects or making them disappear, such as the oats of Père Clément’s horses. So, to be sure, he decided to spend the night in the stable...
Once upon a time, there was a young man who lived in the village of Châtel. Every night, he listened to the old people tell stories of white ghosts, absent minded monks and wretched lords in the Montvaux valley. Over time, this annoyed him, because we know that ghosts don’t exist! Well... are we sure that’s true?
There was a time in our countryside, not so long ago, when it was customary to gather around the fireplace during the long winter evenings. It was in these moments that we could hear the tales and legends that you read in your books today.
But did you know that we owe a good part of these famous tales, transcribed by the Brothers Grimm, to Madame Dorothéa Viehmann?
Saint Nicholas, Patron Saint of Lorraine, is particularly loved by children. He is said to have resurrected three little children killed by a butcher who kept them in a salt cellar.
Many parades are organised in his honour at the start of December throughout the whole of Lorraine.
On the day of Easter, children search for Easter eggs hidden in gardens by the Easter Bunny. This imaginary bunny, a symbol of life and resurrection in the first spring mornings, is a tradition which dates back to the 16th century.
