16059

France / Germany: Lac de Madine, Metz and Goodbye France

We woke up on a country side near Sens city and immediately Bronco and me went for a walk - Garmin Connect. Our today's plan was to visit my friends in Mackenbach, Germany, so we had only a few stops on the way, Lac de Madine and the city of Metz.

Previous days of our road trip to Bayern - Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Netherlands, Belgium, Hauts-de-France, Normandie - Normandy, Bretagne - Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Centre-Val de Loire, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Grand Est and Rhineland-Palatinate: Day 14 - 16058, Day 13 - 16057, Day 12 - 16056, Day 11 - 16055, Day 10 - 16054, Day 9 - 16053, Day 8 - 16052, Day 7 - 16051, Day 6 - 16050, Day 5 - 16049, Day 4 - 16048, Day 3 - 16047, Day 2 - 16046, Day 1 - 16045.

On the morning walk with the view to our wild campsite.

Good morning.

Back on the road.

Our first stop was Lac de Madine, a picturesque artificial lake in the Meuse and Meurthe-et-Moselle departments, within the Parc Naturel Régional de Lorraine.

The lake was created between 1965 and 1971 and it serves as a reservoir for water supply and flood control.

 

We accidentally run into Deutz tractor meeting.

 

New vs. old.

Cockpit of Deutz F2M 315, a 2-cyclinder 3400 cm^3 tractor with 28 PS from 1936.

 

The Saint-Vincent Basilica front facade and Temple Neuf.

 

The Temple Neuf church was constructed to serve the Protestant community in Metz and reflects the German neo-Romanesque architectural style.

Located on the Île du Petit-Saulcy, Temple Neuf is surrounded by the Moselle River, with picturesque gardens and walkways around it.

Temple Neuf was built between 1901 and 1904 during the period when Metz was part of the German Empire (1871-1918) following the Franco-Prussian War.

 

The church features a prominent central tower flanked by four smaller towers, giving it a distinctive and imposing silhouette.

 

It was inaugurated as the Neue evangelische Kirche on 14 May 1904 in the presence of Wilhelm II, German Emperor, and his wife Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein.

When Temple Neuf was being built, some locals humorously noted that it looked more like a castle than a church, given its robust and fortress-like appearance. This led to it being affectionately nicknamed "the Protestant castle."

Place de la Comédie on the Île du Petit-Saulcy.

Metz Cathedral, the seat of the bishops of Metz.

The cathedral’s nave is the 3rd tallest in France, reaching a height of 42 meters. List of highest church naves can be found here.

 

 It is nicknamed la Lanterne du Bon Dieu ("the Good Lord's lantern"), on account of its displaying the largest expanse of stained glass in the world, totalling 6496 m2.

 

Like many Gothic cathedrals, Metz Cathedral employs flying buttresses to support its high walls and large windows. These architectural elements are both functional and decorative​ .

The cathedral's exterior and interior are adorned with numerous sculptures, including gargoyles, saints, and biblical scenes. These sculptures serve both decorative and didactic purposes, illustrating religious narratives.

Metz Cathedral is a prime example of Gothic architecture, characterized by its soaring height, intricate stonework, and extensive use of stained glass.

 

The earliest stained glass windows date back to the 13th century, soon after the cathedral's construction began.

  

After the beer, we went back to the van and we started driving towards our new old country Germany.

Goodbye France, welcome to Germany.

Day 15, 441 km: From Sens to Mackenbach.

Geocaches found (all received a visit by trackable items "MissJenn’s 5 Cents", TB9K7R9, "Sukerbiet 1", TB9VDJJ, "Schwarzer Delfin mit Anker", TB9YMGV and "Geo virus", TB45ZBF):

- Les truffes de la Madine #76, GC8B5V4

- Les truffes de la Madine #75, GC8B5V1

- Les truffes de la Madine #74, GC8B5TZ

#hiking #CatahoulaLeopardDog #vacation #VanTrip #Europe #geocaching