Governor’s Palace

This beautiful German neo-Renaissance style palace in front of you is the Governor’s Palace. It used to be called the “Commando General.” It served as a prestigious residence for the General Commanding the XVI German Corps. But if it’s so classy and looks more like a princely palace than a military construction, it’s because it also served as a pied-à-terre for Emperor Wilhelm II. After World War I, France regained control of Alsace and Moselle, and the new governor of Metz moved into the palace in 1919. But! During World War II, Metz was de facto annexed by Germany, which reinstated the borders of 1871, and the building resumed its original function. Today, it houses the General Military Governor commanding the Northeast military region. It has been listed on the supplementary inventory of historical monuments since 1975.