Jardin des Tanneurs, Garden in the center of Metz, France
The jardin des Tanneurs is a small garden set on the Sainte-Croix hill in the center of Metz, which is considered the oldest part of the city. It is made up of several paths, some of them steep, leading to viewpoints over the city or connecting to nearby historic neighborhoods.
The street where the garden stands was once called the rue des Tanneurs because leather workers set up their trade there during the Middle Ages, drying animal skins on wooden balconies along the riverbank. The rue des Murs, which borders the garden, once held warehouses used to store salt transported along the Seille river.
The garden has cypress trees, palm trees, a fig tree, and lavender, which gives it a feel more associated with southern Europe than northeastern France. In summer, a small open-air amphitheater on the grounds hosts concerts and performances that draw in locals and visitors alike.
Some paths in the garden are steep, so sturdy shoes are a good idea, especially in wet weather. There are benches in quieter spots across the grounds, making it easy to stop and take in the surroundings.
A large fig tree grows in the garden, which is unusual for a city in northeastern France where the climate is generally too cool for that kind of tree. Along the edge of the garden, a stretch of old ramparts is still visible, left over from the city's military past.
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