The former church Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains of Metz !!!

Posted in Europe, France

And let me get back to the east and many nice memories of family visits over the years, We were drawn here by the Christmas market and then more trips to the wonderful Metz in the Moselle dept 57 of the Grand Est  region of my belle France! This is an awesome building to visit, a must I say, not only for the architecture and history but the wonderful programming now done in it. I must say I will be brief as the history is long as old as it is ! Therefore, let me tell you a bit on the former Church Saint Pierre aux Nonnains of Metz !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

metz-ch-st-pierre-des-nonains-back-c1994

The former church Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains dates from the end of the 4C ; one of the oldest churches in the world, and the oldest church in France. In Roman times, the building is used as a palestra and integrated into a thermal complex. In the 7C, it became the chapel of a Benedictine abbey. The Romanesque nave was built around the year 1000, which corresponds to the Ottonian period for the Holy Roman Empire of which Metz was then part.  The city of Metz was invaded and destroyed the first time in 253 by the Alamans (or Alemanni tribe from Germany later defeatd by Clovis in 496 founding royal France). In this climate of less security, the city surrounds itself with a wall of 3.5 meters thick pierced with several gates where architectural elements and steles of Roman monuments are reused. From this troubled time, date the construction of the Basilica St. Pierre aux Nonnains.

Metz ch st pierre aux nonnains oldest in Fr dec06

The building was built in the 4C by the Gallo-Romans. The Roman walls are recognizable by their brick links, separating rows of cut stones. In the 7C, the building was built for Christian worship, and receives a stone balustrade, or chancel, to separate the choir from the nave. This chancel is currently preserved in the museums of Metz.  In the 15-16C, Gothic arches were built over the nave and aisles. In the 7C, the Roman building became the church of a women’s abbey. From 1556, at the time of the construction of the citadel by the French, Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains becomes a military warehouse and the remained until the 20C. Unfortunately, during the siege of Metz by Charles V in 1552, François de Guise had erased forty religious buildings, including Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains.

metz ch st pierre aux nonnais inside wall mar11

In 1946, the city council approved the principle of transfer of various buildings by the army to the city of Metz. Today, Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains has become a venue for concerts and exhibitions. Wonderful historical exhibitions are held there now as well as concerts of the period and modern, a great cultural center in the city center of Metz.

 The city of Metz on the church: https://metz.fr/lieux/lieu-129.php

The Metz tourist office on the church: https://www.tourisme-metz.com/en/page/838140131-former-saint-pierre-aux-nonnains-church

The Cité Musicale of Metz on cultural needs in the city ,especially the St Pierre aux Nonnains : https://www.citemusicale-metz.fr/la-cite-musicale/les-salles/saint-pierre-aux-nonnains

There you go folks, a wonderful space to see and enjoy it with the whole family, hope you do have a chance to visit ,it is worth the detour, Again, hope you enjoy this post on the former Saint Pierre aux Nonnains of Metz !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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