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 garden occupies the site of the rue des Tanneurs, where tanners worked since the Middle Ages beside a branch of the Seille that ran through the Outre-Seille district until it was filled in 1906 for health reasons. On 24 April 1948 at 5:10 am, four half-timbered houses at nos. 51, 53, 55 and 57 collapsed in a landslide, killing twelve people and ending housing on the site. The terraced garden was laid out from 1979 to 1984 after the existing walls were consolidated with reinforced concrete and tie rods anchored in hard limestone.

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.

The garden's warm, sheltered slope lets southern plants grow in Metz: Italian cypresses, hardy palms, eucalyptus, lavender, holm oaks, camellias, kiwis and bamboo were planted there. The site was rebuilt after the 24 April 1948 landslide, when four houses on the rue des Tanneurs collapsed and twelve people died.