Details
Founded: 13th centuryCategory: Religious sites in France
Historical period: Late Capetians (France)
Rating
4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)
User Reviews
Aurelie Delfour (9 months ago)
Warm welcome, very well housed and well located in the city center.
Warm welcome, very well housed and well located in the city center.
Eric Tison (9 months ago)
I loved visiting this old abbey, some remains of which date from the 13th century. The ancient Saint-Arnoul abbey preserved the memory of the most eminent representatives of the Carolingian dynasty. Indeed, four of Charlemagne's children and his wife were buried in the abbey which was then located outside the city walls, approximately on the site of the former Bonsecours hospital near the Bonsecours church. This venerable construction was completely razed in 1552 to protect Metz by preventing the troops of Charles V from taking up position there. The Benedictines of Saint-Arnoul who occupied the premises were then rehoused in the Dominican convent, a vast building located inside the enclosure in the current rue aux Ours. In 1661, restorations were undertaken on the conventual buildings and on the abbey church which dated back to the 13th century. Shortly after, reconstructions were undertaken between 1664 and 1661 under the direction of the architect Antoine Grabert. It concerns the cloister, the chapter house, the sacristy and the refectory. Between 1741 and 1748, architects Louis and Claude Barlet were responsible for rebuilding the abbey mansion. The revolution put an end to the existence of this institution whose buildings were assigned to the barracks of the School of Engineering in 1796. Throughout the 19th century, the convent buildings and the church were modified to adapt them to military needs. It is in this context that, among other things, is installed the observation turret located at one end of the nave of the partially demolished church. This tower, erected in 1852 at the request of Lieutenant-Colonel Goulier, made it possible to monitor the maneuvers of the cadets outside the barracks. Between 1870 and 1918, the buildings served in turn as a German war school and as a casino. On May 15, 1919, the Circle of Officers was inaugurated there and on February 24, 1986, the former abbey was listed in the supplementary inventory of historical monuments. From the outside, seeing the west wing of the conventual buildings preceded by a triangular garden and bordering the Rue aux Ours, there is nothing to suggest that it is a monastic complex. The very refined construction rises on two levels. The walls are coated and only the frames of the semi-circular arched windows are in Jaumont freestone. When one enters the cloister, the religious function of the whole is finally revealed, and one cannot help but see similarities there with the cloisters of Saint-Vincent and Saint-Clément. Here too, only the first level is entirely in freestone. The T-shaped pillars are topped with volutes and the keys of the semicircular arches are protruding and carved. The second level is openworked by rectangular windows of which only the frame is in freestone. The galleries are groined, separated by semi-circular transverse arches which rest on pilasters with Doric capitals on the side of the wall. The old refectory is particularly elegant. It is a vast room with two parallel naves separated by swollen columns with Corinthian capitals. Do not leave the place without having admired the remarkable group sculpted in limestone. It was discovered by chance during work carried out in 1990. It is a Pietà probably dating from the last half of the 16th century. As Mary gazes at her dead son, Adam's skull at Golgotha lies beside her. To continue the tourist visit to Metz, we can go see the bishopric of Metz place Sainte-Glossinde and have my explanations on the Sainte-Glossinde church, which I left in Google Map... Otherwise, we can now head towards the column of Merten located at the entrance of the rue Serpenoise, then towards the old 'Hôtel Particulier de Gargan. Please, put "a like or useful" to encourage me in my approach. Thanks. Best regards. Eric Tison. F-57 Mosel.
I loved visiting this old abbey, some remains of which date from the 13th century. The ancient Saint-Arnoul abbey preserved the memory of the most eminent representatives of the Carolingian dynasty. Indeed, four of Charlemagne's children and his wife were buried in the abbey which was then located outside the city walls, approximately on the site of the former Bonsecours hospital near the Bonsecours church. This venerable construction was completely razed in 1552 to protect Metz by preventing the troops of Charles V from taking up position there. The Benedictines of Saint-Arnoul who occupied the premises were then rehoused in the Dominican convent, a vast building located inside the enclosure in the current rue aux Ours. In 1661, restorations were undertaken on the conventual buildings and on the abbey church which dated back to the 13th century. Shortly after, reconstructions were undertaken between 1664 and 1661 under the direction of the architect Antoine Grabert. It concerns the cloister, the chapter house, the sacristy and the refectory. Between 1741 and 1748, architects Louis and Claude Barlet were responsible for rebuilding the abbey mansion. The revolution put an end to the existence of this institution whose buildings were assigned to the barracks of the School of Engineering in 1796. Throughout the 19th century, the convent buildings and the church were modified to adapt them to military needs. It is in this context that, among other things, is installed the observation turret located at one end of the nave of the partially demolished church. This tower, erected in 1852 at the request of Lieutenant-Colonel Goulier, made it possible to monitor the maneuvers of the cadets outside the barracks. Between 1870 and 1918, the buildings served in turn as a German war school and as a casino. On May 15, 1919, the Circle of Officers was inaugurated there and on February 24, 1986, the former abbey was listed in the supplementary inventory of historical monuments. From the outside, seeing the west wing of the conventual buildings preceded by a triangular garden and bordering the Rue aux Ours, there is nothing to suggest that it is a monastic complex. The very refined construction rises on two levels. The walls are coated and only the frames of the semi-circular arched windows are in Jaumont freestone. When one enters the cloister, the religious function of the whole is finally revealed, and one cannot help but see similarities there with the cloisters of Saint-Vincent and Saint-Clément. Here too, only the first level is entirely in freestone. The T-shaped pillars are topped with volutes and the keys of the semicircular arches are protruding and carved. The second level is openworked by rectangular windows of which only the frame is in freestone. The galleries are groined, separated by semi-circular transverse arches which rest on pilasters with Doric capitals on the side of the wall. The old refectory is particularly elegant. It is a vast room with two parallel naves separated by swollen columns with Corinthian capitals. Do not leave the place without having admired the remarkable group sculpted in limestone. It was discovered by chance during work carried out in 1990. It is a Pietà probably dating from the last half of the 16th century. As Mary gazes at her dead son, Adam's skull at Golgotha lies beside her. To continue the tourist visit to Metz, we can go see the bishopric of Metz place Sainte-Glossinde and have my explanations on the Sainte-Glossinde church, which I left in Google Map... Otherwise, we can now head towards the column of Merten located at the entrance of the rue Serpenoise, then towards the old 'Hôtel Particulier de Gargan. Please, put "a like or useful" to encourage me in my approach. Thanks. Best regards. Eric Tison. F-57 Mosel.
gilles brayer (14 months ago)
Very beautiful building, steeped in history Warm welcome and good advice. Very decent accommodation and in the city center.
Very beautiful building, steeped in history Warm welcome and good advice. Very decent accommodation and in the city center.
Raphael Carlier (4 years ago)
It is a place which causes a certain surprise by the beauty of the site, its structures, its decorations its cleanliness and especially the calm which makes it possible to penetrate in oneself even in a deeper re-election. Without exaggeration it is a very pleasant discovery. And the passenger that I am is happy to have experienced these moments.R.Carlier.
It is a place which causes a certain surprise by the beauty of the site, its structures, its decorations its cleanliness and especially the calm which makes it possible to penetrate in oneself even in a deeper re-election. Without exaggeration it is a very pleasant discovery. And the passenger that I am is happy to have experienced these moments.R.Carlier.
Jean-Jacques monnami (5 years ago)
Magnificent building to visit marked by an exceptional richness. To know: it was a school of artillery, during the second world war jn landmark of the guestapo and to date u. army mess circle.
Magnificent building to visit marked by an exceptional richness. To know: it was a school of artillery, during the second world war jn landmark of the guestapo and to date u. army mess circle.
