Metz. Do you know how to get to the Récollets hanging garden?

The place was long reserved for the agents of the municipal archives and the Recollects cloister. To reach the roof of the former water reservoirs of the City of Metz, the staff took a very narrow spiral staircase and pushed open a small door, not without placing a stone in the gap to prevent it from closing in a gust of wind.

Since taking office, the mayor of Metz, François Grosdidier, "dreamed of opening these gardens to the general public" alongside the major renovation work on the Récollets undertaken on the north (2018), west (2023) and east (ongoing) wings.

But before this wish could be granted, the issue of roof access for people with reduced mobility had to be resolved. Studies were conducted to build an elevator in the municipal archives buildings. But this project, submitted to the architect of French buildings, has still not been approved.

As the project dragged on, a temporary staircase was erected outside the building. It provides access to the green roof from the inner courtyard of the Récollets cloister.

Inaugurated this Saturday, July 5, by the municipal team, the Récollets hanging garden is now open to the public. Until August 31, it will host the HOPES 2025 exhibition by futurist Yannick Monget, whose large panels depict hyper-vegetated cities.

On the promontory, the space is organized around a renovated kiosk. The City has planted flowers, trees and shrubs "resilient enough to withstand the heat of a terrace," described Béatrice Agamennone, in charge of green spaces .

Thus, yellow chamomile, tree wormwood, and lavender, as well as pines, a wig tree, and plum trees cover the roof. (Very) many studies were conducted to design the soils: "We had to find a substrate suitable for the plantations, but one that wasn't too heavy and that could be transported" to the platform, says the elected official. Part of the garden was left wild to encourage biodiversity.

In the flowerbeds, signs indicate the names of the plants, but also those of the birds believed to frequent the area, such as the black redstart which builds a "nest of grass and dried stems in very varied places."

The new belvedere also offers a unique view of the Outre Seille and train station districts. Signs describe the various churches, the Porte des Allemands (German Gate), the train station's water tower, and even the Pompidou Center, which is hidden by buildings.

On sunny days, you will need to bring a hat or umbrella because the garden, being still young, offers little shade.

To reach the site, you must go to the Récollets cloister, 1 rue des Récollets on Sainte-Croix hill. Instead of going straight towards the central garden, you must head left, to the back of the courtyard, to find the temporary staircase.

The cloister is open to the public every weekday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on weekends from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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