On Monday, I arrived in the beautiful city of Metz. Admittedly I slept through the entire bus ride there, but to make up for it, I spent the week and weekend exploring the city. Full of culture and history, Metz has so much to offer for anyone passing through. Located in northeast France, in the Lorraine region, Metz is a quaint city with such a lively culture. We got a chance to experience this culture first hand because we arrived just in time for the Mirabelle Festival. To explain, mirabelles are small plums that are grown in this region of France, and this happened to be the final week of celebration of their harvest in the city. What does that mean for us? Concerts, parades and fun, set with the backdrop of one of the most beautiful cathedrals I have ever laid eyes on. Completed in the year 1550, this cathedral is in the main square in Metz. There was something very beautiful about standing in the shadow of the grand Roman Catholic structure while listening to music from all around the world. It made for a perfect introduction to the city. The next couple of days included wandering around the city's streets and exploring the different museums and churches. The city is home to some of the most beautiful architecture. Quite literally from the beginning of your trip in the Neo-Romanesque train station to the stunning piece of architecture that houses the modern and contemporary art museum, the Centre Pompidou, the city will never cease to amaze you. The fact that I spent the whole weekend in this area meant that I could wander a bit away from the city to explore some amazing gems in the vicinity. One of these gems was the Fort Queuleu. Only a 10 minute walk from my dorm, the abandoned fort was absolutely amazing to explore. Built in under French rule in 1868, the fort has seen 3 wars in its time. It even housed a German interrogation center during WW2. It was strange to realize that that much history was only a few footsteps away. (In all my excitement to go to the Fort, I totally forgot my camera, but not to worry, my sweet friends Jaden Truxal and Thomas Culwell got these amazing snaps!) Finally, the Department of Moselle, which to my understanding is the county that we are currently in, invited all the Georgia Tech Lorraine students to their building for lunch, and then took us on field trips to several different places. The group that I was assigned to got to go to the Château de Malbrouck. The château was constructed in 1419, and was destroyed in WW2. The Department of Moselle restored the castle, and now its an absolutely beautiful place to visit. Set in the rolling hills on the border of France, Luxembourg and Germany, the view from the towers of the castle are in one word unforgettable. This next weekend I'll be heading off to Paris, a much larger city, but I have a feeling that even in comparison to the City of Lights, Metz will have its own unique shine that'll always have a special place in my heart. I recommend this stunning destination for anyone willing to go!
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Mahima Siripurapu18 years old. Industrial Engineering major. Dog enthusiast. Aspiring Khaleesi. Foodie. Land dweller. Struggling writer. Horrid chess player. Adequate chef. Thrifting lover. Environmentalist, and yes that does mean I'm a tree hugger. vegetarian. Archives
September 2018
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