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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Place Saint-Étienne is an emblematic square of the city of Metz, located in Moselle, in the Grand Est region. It was built in the second half of the 18th century, partly on the remains of the ancient wall of the High Roman Empire. This square overlooks the Place de Chambre by almost six meters and served as secondary access to Saint-Étienne Cathedral, as well as to Notre-Dame-de-la-Ronde Church. Originally, it was connected by a large, wide walk, before being transformed into a terrace by Blondel in 1763.

In 1763, architect Blondel rearranged the square in a terrace supported by iron vaults on horseback, bordered by two monumental stairs. Two identical buildings surrounded the square: in the east, the outbuildings now housing the DRAC and the Bâtiments de France, and in the west, a building hosting a library and a restaurant, demolished in 1904 to expand the rue d'Estrées. The square has had several names over the centuries, reflecting its evolution: the place of the high degrees in the 14th century, Place Jotte, place of the pâté of the cathedral (due to its rounded shape), the Parapet in 1795, or Étienne during the Revolution.

Ranked a historic monument by decree of 23 January 1930 for its stairs and terrace, Place Saint-Étienne illustrates the architectural and urban heritage of Metz. Its 18th century layout is part of a period of modernization of the city, while preserving traces of its ancient past. The vaults and stairs, characteristic of its style, make it a landmark of the Lorraine heritage, linked to both the cathedral and the revolutionary history of France.

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