Maison des Têtes, Renaissance house in central Metz, France.
Maison des Têtes is a 16th century stone building with five carved human heads above large windows, representing notable figures from Metz history. The facade demonstrates the refined craftsmanship of the Renaissance period.
Built in 1529 by wealthy goldsmith Jean Aubry, the building reflects the prosperity of Metz merchants during the Renaissance. It was classified as a historical monument in 1929.
The entrance displays a lion hunt scene carved in high relief, while the original head sculptures are now preserved in museums in Metz and Boston. This placement of artworks across institutions tells a story about how cities preserve and share their heritage.
The building is privately owned and located on En-Fournirue street, so the interior is not open to visitors. The protected facade is fully visible from the street and can be photographed at any time.
Archaeological excavations during construction revealed ancient artifacts linked to the former Gallic oppidum Divodurum, a sacred site of the Mediomatrici tribe. These discoveries show how the site's history extends far back into ancient times.
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