Hôtel des Postes, the Neo-Romanesque gem of Metz's Imperial Quarter

A showcase of the Empire

During the annexation, the German authorities made Metz a showcase for their architecture. Designed by Berliner Ewald von Rechenberg, the post office was placed near the station because fast mail mattered in the event of conflict. It forgoes local Jaumont stone in favour of pink sandstone.

Pink sandstone worth a closer look

Standing before the station forecourt, take time to read the building in detail. Pink Vosges sandstone dominates the walls, while grey granite columns break up the colour. The corner towers are not identical and the openings vary, a play of irregularities in the spirit of Rhenish neo-Romanesque. Move in closer to the carved capitals, which reward an attentive eye. At around 14,200 m², the complex has considerable bulk, and walking along its façades gives a sense of the scale. All of this can be enjoyed freely from the street, since only the exterior is now open to passers-by.

Several hands behind a station post office

The project does not bear a single signature. Ewald von Rechenberg's plans were modified by Ludwig Bettcher and by Jürgen Kröger, head of architecture for Alsace-Lorraine, and Gustav Petrich began the work in 1907. Kröger's name ties the building directly to the neighbouring station, which he also designed. This proximity was far from decorative: the railway carried the mail, and the building, also designed for the imperial postal directorate, forms a monumental ensemble with the station. Damaged by war, it saw restoration of its exterior begin in 1944.

A planned conversion with an uncertain timetable

Since the post office moved out, the building has been waiting for a new use. In October 2021, Poste Immo, La Poste's property subsidiary, selected the firm Ferrier Marchetti Studio. The programme presented at the time combines a serviced senior residence of about 110 homes, a young people's residence of more than 160 homes, offices, an urban logistics hub and a winter garden in place of the former post office. The main work was planned for 2023, but the Guide du Routard reports it stopped since late 2023, with no known restart date. No opening can therefore be announced.

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