Metz

Metz is a wonderful city that can proudly boast a fascinating history. The Moselle river winds its way mostly through rural country, however, there are two towns on its banks that can claim the title of "metropolis": Metz (département Moselle, France) and Trier (Rheinland-Pfalz) downstream in Germany. The entire length of the Moselle, from its source in the Vosges mountains to the Rhine river, was once in the realm of the Roman province of Gaul. Its origins are lost in prehistory but evident through archeological finds now exhibited in the local museum (Musée de la Cour d'Or). They testify human presence in the area to as far back as 3000 BC. Many place names, toponyms, of central Europe are derived from the names of its original Celtic population as is the case with Metz. It is first mentioned by Roman historian Tacitus as "Divodurum" and is afterwards known as Divodurum Mediomatricorum.