The Germans’ Gate

Well, the road of the Germans naturally led us to the Porte des Allemands, Germans’ gate! Funnily enough, the name doesn’t come from its direction toward Germany, nor does it have anything to do with a German occupation! Nope, this gate gets its name from its proximity to the hospice of the Teutonic Order knights, a big religious and military order of Germanic origin. It was built in 1230 and got wrecked during the siege of Metz in 1552. The Porte des Allemands, built in the 13th century, stands as a symbol of Metz’s medieval past. It’s the most significant remnant of one of the vastest medieval ramparts from the 13th century. Metz was asserting its power and independence as a free imperial city. In medieval times, there were twelve gates,this one was among the seven main ones, andserved as both a defense gate and a fortified bridge. It’s sole purpose wasn’t just to protect the city entrance, but also to enable a bit of a grand entrance! When Metz went into German hands, architect Paul Tornow took charge of its restoration and added the neo-Gothic décor to the battlements. Since the gate’s renovation in 2014, you can freely visit this classified historical monument, From the gate, you can also follow the arrow-marked rampart trail for another stroll delving into Metz’s medieval history.