Rouen or Metz day trip

I've visited both and I would recommend Rouen over Metz. I felt there was more to see. Metz is fine -- don't get me wrong -- but if were to choose between the two the choice would not be difficult.

We have been thinking of a week in Metz as a base for visiting Luxembourg, Nancy, Trier etc next fall but I looked at a video of Metz and it looked frankly dank and ugly. Am I wrong there? Is this a charming place as a base? It was more central than Nancy for day tripping and Luxembourg is expensive as a base.

"...dank and ugly." That's why I never rely on reviews or videos as a source for deciding whether to spend time visiting a place as a day / afternoon trip or devote a week or two.

This last trip in the summer of 2025 I spent over 2 weeks in Metz, though not consecutively, thoroughly exploring the centre-ville and as a base for seeing other towns in Lorraine, such as Thionville, Toul, Nancy, Luneville, and Morhange, and Verdun. Still not finished yet as I'll be going back there the last week in May 2025 after landing in Paris.

What part of the history do you want to see? There is some pretty poignant places and sites around Metz as it was a battlefield region since the 1600s and in the 2 world wars. I focus on seeing the French and German sites from WW1 in Lorraine.

With a car you'll be able to reach these sites outside the city limits of Metz. Also accessible by bus and train too, all depends where you want to go around Metz.

I have been in Metz in good weather, and bad. Sunny, raining, snow, etc.; I don't care because it's a really good place to spend a day or two. Metz has one of the best museums in France, the Cour de la Ore, which is built on the ruin of a Roman therme, and which is free. They have Celtic and Roman stuff that you just don't see anywhere else. And some art...

Metz has a couple great gardens, a very nice cathedral, Vauban fortifications, Roman ruins, kayaking on the river, and very good indoor market (and a decent flea market just outside on Saturdays). They have a strong music calendar, good festivals, excellent shopping, and it's easy to get around.

Metz was the site of a major confrontation between Patton's 3rd Army and the Germans. There are WWI and Franco Prussian War memorials and battlefields all around (as well as a museum).

I like Metz.

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We enjoyed our 2 nights in Metz and that was enough time for what we like to do. Haven’t been to Rouen, so can’t comment on it.