Des Adresses Utiles à Place de Chambre

Above I've scanned the business cards of three important establishments that made my experience in Metz all the more memorable. They are for you so you can make your own stay in Metz a more pleasant one. At the top is where I dined the only evening I was there, Mala Coste, with one word of advice: dine and wine there now!!!!! In the middle you'll find the business card of the wonderful inn which Madame Hocine has created with the greatest of care, love, passion, and just plain class: Hôtel de la Cathédrale. When I go back there soon, guess where I'll be staying? I have always desisted from large hotel chains. The B&Bs in the countryside or the small family owned hotel in cities have proven to enlighten me more. Support small business because it's personal, it's family, and it's home, it's us. And finally down below, the 3rd card, belongs to Madame La Sommelière. Or perhaps she prefers being called Le Sommelier? It doesn't matter because she had a patient ear for all my queries regarding local vines and French wine in general. A lovely person who completed the sommelier course in London I believe, probably that famous sommelier school that costs a lot of money but that nevertheless is like graduating from Yale; yet what I find interesting is that here is a fine lady from France, the craddle of modern winemaking and when I say modern I mean the last 1000 years, with a thriving wine bar, yet humble enough to enhance her knowledge about wine from the English? Hmmmmm? Okay, got it. You should visit her and allow her to instruct you in the delights of local winemaking, a very unsusual experience. I had her assortment of cheeses that blew me away!

Chambre 207, Hôtel de la Cathédrale

Chambre 207 oú j'ai passé la nuit à Metz la belle.

Hôtel de la Cathédrale

A while ago I discovered this great guide to beautiful B&Bs written by French travel journalist Marie-Dominique Perrin. Dr. Götze Land & Karte is a travel bookshop in downtown Hamburg that sells books in other languages as well (including English & French). It's become one of my favorite bookshops. For me it has been a gold mine of practical information for my journeys. This hotel is one of the few inns featured in that book which is located directly in a city. Hôtel de la Cathédrale is run by Mme Hocine and, as its name says, faces Saint Etienne's cathedral straight on from 25, place de Chambre. Mme Hocine has carefully decorated her 31-room inn with lovely antique furniture thus the travel-torn wayfarer is completely surrounded by a high degree of aesthetics. I opted for the breakfast which consisted of croissants, dark bread (for Germans; Metz itself has been a German city several times in its history and many citizens still speak German), baguette bread, freshly pressed orange juice, a scrumptious selection of cheeses, cold cuts, watermelon, prunes, grapes (you get the picture). Oh yes! And coffee. It's an additional €11,- but worth every cent. Free parking may prove to be difficult and I heeded my hostess and parked the car in the underground parking structure right across the cathedral (follow the parking sign P - Préfecture or Cathédral) which coincidentally was also €11,- for a 24-hour period. Prices range from €58 to €105 a night. Highly recommended. Marie-Dominique Perrin's book is titled "Chambres d'hôtes secrètes" and for €24,- was a sound investment. In her review of these hotel rooms she says the following: Notre préférée est la n° 203, pleine vue, à hauteur du porche de la cathédrale. This is the room with the view to the cathedral.