Hôtel d'Arros, a private mansion in Metz
The Hôtel d'Arros is a private mansion in the city of Metz, in the Moselle department.
A U-shaped building north of the Pontiffroy
The Hôtel d'Arros stands north of the Pontiffroy, in the administrative district of Les Îles. According to a local-history page citing Le Républicain lorrain, it was built in the early 17th century on a U-shaped plan; Wikipedia's article gives the same century but elsewhere assigns the building to the 18th. The date should therefore be treated with caution. Wikipedia describes Italian-style mansard roofs, which it considers typical of civil architecture in Metz. We found no heritage record in its name and no reliable explanation of the name itself: no source consulted says who the Arros were in Metz.
From Charles Quentin's workshops to a rebuilt district
Its documented history rests mainly on one craftsman. In 1880 the art locksmith Charles Quentin, who owned the building, set up his workshops here; the same local-history page notes that some of his work can be found in Metz, notably on Avenue Foch. Photographs from the 1970s then show the building amid the rebuilding of the district, at its address of the time, 64 Rue du Pontiffroy. We could not verify its current use. Walkers can only look at its outline from the street, without expecting a visit, and round off the outing at the former abbey of Saint-Clément in the same area.
Practical information
Address: 2 Rue Saint-Clément, 57000 Metz
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit the Hôtel d'Arros?
We found no information about public opening or about its current use. Treat it as a building to look at from the street, without trying to go in, and respect that it may be private.
Where should you stay to discover the Pontiffroy and northern Metz?
Choose the centre around the cathedral: you can do everything on foot, the Pontiffroy included. Staylaro's guide « Se loger à Metz » presents the other neighbourhoods, including Outre-Seille, and lets you search for accommodation.
How do you reach the Hôtel d'Arros on foot?
From the old centre, head north to the Pontiffroy district, then make for Rue Saint-Clément. The address recorded is number 2 on that street: check it on a map, as the district has been heavily reworked.
Who were the Arros?
We cannot say for certain: no source consulted explains the origin of this name in Metz. There is a Hôtel de Sagey d'Arros in Ornans, in the Doubs, but nothing establishes a link between the two buildings.
