Centre Pompidou-Metz
The first decentralised outpost of a national cultural institution in France, the Centre Pompidou-Metz has become a beacon of modern and contemporary art in the Grand Est region. Set in the Amphithéâtre district, a short walk from the railway station, it is recognisable from afar by its great undulating timber roof. Inside, it holds no permanent collection of its own: it draws on the holdings of the Musée national d'art moderne to stage, each year, some of the country's most ambitious temporary exhibitions.
A timber roof that became a landmark
The building, inaugurated in 2010, is the work of architects Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines, joined by Philip Gumuchdjian for the competition. Its signature is a vast hexagonal roof of glued laminated timber, woven like the caning of a Chinese hat and some ninety metres across. It crowns a great nave and is pierced by a central spire rising to seventy-seven metres, a nod to 1977, the year the Paris Centre Pompidou opened. The choice of wood, a renewable material, already made the building a manifesto.
Three galleries turned towards the city
Beneath the roof, the building is arranged around a great nave and three stacked galleries, long concrete "tubes" that pierce the façade and each frame a piece of Metz: the cathedral, the station, the surrounding landscape. With nearly five thousand square metres of floor space, it is one of the largest temporary exhibition venues in France outside Paris. An auditorium and a creative studio complete the layout, hosting performances, screenings and talks. The whole is surrounded by gardens and extended by a gently sloping terrace.
Exhibitions drawn from a national treasure
The Centre Pompidou-Metz has no collection of its own: it relies on that of the Musée national d'art moderne, the largest collection of modern and contemporary art in Europe. From it come ambitious temporary exhibitions, monographs of great twentieth-century artists, fresh readings of movements or sweeping thematic narratives, often conceived especially for its spaces. The programme changes with the seasons: it is best to check what is currently on before visiting, so constantly does the offering renew itself and range across very different sensibilities.
A new district, easy to reach
The museum acted as the engine of the Amphithéâtre district's redevelopment, a former railway site turned into a piece of contemporary city between the station and the Parc de la Seille. Travellers arriving by train are especially well served: a few minutes' walk from Metz station is enough to reach the entrance. Around it, cafés, shops and green spaces extend the visit, and it is easy to carry on to Metz's historic centre, close by.
Infos pratiques
Questions fréquentes
Does the Centre Pompidou-Metz have a permanent collection?
No. It holds no works of its own and presents only temporary exhibitions, fed by the collections of the Musée national d'art moderne. The programme is renewed regularly.
Who designed the building?
Architects Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines, with Philip Gumuchdjian for the competition. The building, with its hexagonal timber roof and seventy-seven-metre spire, was inaugurated in 2010.
How do I get there from central Metz?
The museum is in the Amphithéâtre district, a few minutes' walk from Metz railway station. It is one of the easiest places in the city to reach if you arrive by train.
Which days is the museum open?
The museum opens every day except Tuesday. Hours vary with the seasons and it closes on some public holidays: check the current listing or the official website before setting out.
Wikimedia Commons — Guido Radig · Wikimedia Commons — Christian Ries
