Moselle: Metz, Cross-Border Life, and a German Heritage
Moselle was part of Germany from 1871 to 1918 and again from 1940 to 1945, which gives it a cultural and architectural distinctiveness within France. Metz, the prefecture, has a Gothic cathedral with the largest expanse of stained glass in the world (over 6,500 square metres) and the Centre Pompidou-Metz, which opened in 2010. German-era buildings line the streets around the railway station.
Moselle retains the Alsace-Moselle local law (droit local), a legacy of its German period that includes different rules on public holidays, social insurance, and even a concordat with religious institutions. Thionville and Forbach are industrial towns near the Luxembourg and German borders respectively. Cross-border commuting to Luxembourg is a major economic factor, with tens of thousands making the daily journey. The population exceeds one million.
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Moselle was part of Germany from 1871 to 1918 and again from 1940 to 1945, which gives it a cultural and architectural distinctiveness within France. Metz, the prefecture, has a Gothic cathedral with the largest expanse of stained glass in the world (over 6,500 square metres) and the Centre Pompidou-Metz, which opened in 2010. German-era buildings line the streets around the railway station.
Moselle retains the Alsace-Moselle local law (droit local), a legacy of its German period that includes different rules on public holidays, social insurance, and even a concordat with religious institutions. Thionville and Forbach are industrial towns near the Luxembourg and German borders respectively. Cross-border commuting to Luxembourg is a major economic factor, with tens of thousands making the daily journey. The population exceeds one million.
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