Hôtel des Arts et Métiers, a Neo-Renaissance building in Metz
The former Chamber of Trades, this Neo-Renaissance building designed by Gustave Oberthür stands in Metz's Imperial Quarter.
Its various names
The building is also called the Maison des Corporations or Immeuble des Corporations réunies, and is known in German as the Gewerbehaus. It stands on Place Raymond-Mondon.
A home for the guilds of Metz
In 1900 a central committee of united guilds was formed in Metz and began looking for a headquarters. Work started in 1907 and led to the inauguration of 22 September 1909. The building was more than a simple craftsmen's house, since it also received the commercial court, the labour tribunal and training rooms for apprentices. After Moselle returned to France, it became the seat of the chamber of trades and crafts in 1923. A bank and a restaurant later moved in. The Mérimée record still names the central committee of guilds as its private owner.
Rhenish neo-Renaissance, from street to glass roof
Gustave Oberthür, assisted by Ernst Priedat, drew on the Renaissance of Rhineland cities and chose pink sandstone. The building spans three addresses: Avenue Foch, Place Raymond-Mondon and Rue Gambetta. From the street, it is therefore the scale of the block that strikes you first. The most telling feature lies inside: a large glass roof devoted to the guilds lights the grand staircase on the Avenue Foch side. The venue's rental listings also mention a Salon aux Blasons, rooms named after trades and 200 m² of art glass long hidden from view. The name Gewerbehaus then makes full sense.
On the former Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring
Place Raymond-Mondon is named after the mayor of Metz from 1947 to 1970. In the German period, this space known as the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring displayed imperial power: the guild house stood alongside the Imperial Bank and the Prince Friedrich Karl barracks, while an equestrian statue of Frederick III, toppled in 1918, rose on the square. Today the building hosts receptions, seminars and shows under the name Le Royal. On foot, walk around the square to compare these façades, then take Avenue Foch or Rue Gambetta, which leads towards the former post office and the station.
Practical information
Address: 5 Place Raymond-Mondon (corner of 1-3 Avenue Foch and 2-2 bis Rue Gambetta), 57000 Metz
Frequently asked questions
Where is it?
On Avenue Foch and Rue Gambetta, on Place Raymond-Mondon, in the Imperial Quarter.
Is this monument protected?
Yes, it is registered as a historic monument.
Can you visit the Hôtel des Arts et Métiers?
Not on a walk-in basis: it is private property, rented out for events. You therefore admire it from outside, from Place Raymond-Mondon and Avenue Foch. The interior and its glass roof can be seen during a reception or a show, when the venue schedules one.
Which neighbourhood should you choose to sleep nearby?
The Imperial Quarter is the most logical choice, since the building belongs to it and the station is close by. The centre around the cathedral is another good base. Staylaro's guide « Se loger à Metz » lets you compare and search for accommodation.
Wikimedia Commons — Fab5669
