Centre Pompidou-Metz is a modern and contemporary art museum in Metz, a branch of the Centre Pompidou in Paris. It opened in 2010 and is known first for its building, whose roof of laminated spruce and larch curves over a concrete, steel and glass core and takes its shape from a Chinese hat. Inside, temporary and semi-permanent exhibitions draw on the Paris collection, with works by artists such as Maurizio Cattelan and Marina Abramović. The building is worth seeing even before you choose a show, and the museum pairs well with a walk through the historic centre.
The building and its roof
The museum was designed by Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines, with Philip Gumuchdjian credited for the competition-winning design. The roof is the feature most visitors notice first. It is made of laminated spruce and larch and sits over a core of concrete, steel and glass with a loose, uneven fold that looks almost random. The shape takes its inspiration from a Chinese hat, a comparison that appears in most descriptions of the building.
The spire rises 77 metres and is a nod to 1977, the year the Centre Pompidou in Paris opened.
A branch of the Paris museum
Centre Pompidou-Metz is the first decentralisation of the national museum of modern and contemporary art in Paris. It opened in May 2010 and draws its exhibits from the Paris collection, which holds more than 100,000 works.
Most displays are temporary or semi-permanent, so what you see changes over time. Through this branch, the Paris museum shares its collections and its know-how with the regions.
Exhibitions and past shows
Past temporary shows have included work by Fernand Léger, the French artist and sculptor known for his figurative cubist pieces, and Oskar Schlemmer, a German artist linked to the Bauhaus. Other exhibitions have featured Rebecca Horn and Lee Ufan. A show from 2019 to 2020 was devoted to Sergei Eisenstein.
Maurizio Cattelan's exhibition Sunday Without End (Dimanche sans fin) brought more than 350 works from the Paris museum together with his own. The show turned the building into a maze of absurdity, the sacred and collective memory, with dark humour and seriousness side by side.
Inside the building
The building holds several galleries, an auditorium and a theatre. Beyond the exhibitions, it hosts live shows, projections, conferences, talks and youth projects. Family workshops are offered at times, and the museum has changing tables.
The entrance and restroom are wheelchair accessible, and assisted listening devices are available. There is an on-site restaurant for a break between galleries.
Around the museum in Metz
The museum sits between Metz-Ville station and Parc de la Seille, in the newer part of the city. It is a short walk from the central station.
The Cathedral of Saint-Étienne, a 13th-century Gothic building, has modern stained-glass windows by Chagall. The Imperial Quarter, built during the German period, has turret-like towers, Art Nouveau balconies and large mock-castle houses around the station. Mirabelle plums from the region appear in local sweets and liqueurs. The gardens and the banks of the River Moselle make Metz easy to explore by bike.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is there an entry fee?
Yes, admission is charged. Visitors under 26 can enter for free.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
The museum recommends getting tickets in advance.
How long do you need?
A visit usually takes 2 to 2.5 hours.
Is the museum accessible?
Yes. The entrance, restroom and parking lot are wheelchair accessible, and assisted listening devices are available.
Is it suitable for children?
It is family-friendly and has changing tables. Family workshops are offered at times.
