A modest 12th-century parish church on a quiet street east of the cathedral, Saint-Maximin would barely register as a sight were it not for one extraordinary feature: its stained glass windows were designed by the poet and filmmaker Jean Cocteau, in the last years of his life. The result is unlike any other church windows in France — abstract compositions of red, blue, and yellow with floating motifs of hands, eyes, stars, and flame.
The contrast with the medieval cathedral nearby is sharp and rewarding. Spend half an hour here on the same day as the cathedral to see how stained glass in Metz spans the whole sweep of European art. The church is open during the day for most of the year; entry is free.