After sailing through customs, collecting our luggage (that we were forced to check for no good reason due to an inconsistent/jerk BA gate agent) and picking up the rental car in Luxembourg, we headed south into France. Based on research the night before, we decided to stop in Metz—about an hour south of Luxembourg City—to stretch our legs, grab some lunch and explore the town.

After some one-way street driving we found parking in an underground lot right next to the Metz Cathedral. Our first stop was Pâtisserie Jean for a ham and cheese sandwich and then a chocolate pastry, which tasted like a cross between a doughnut and a croissant.

Next we explored the cathedral (free entry!), admiring all the beautiful stained glass windows, including some impressive work by Marc Chagall.

The town itself was also very picturesque, with flower boxed bridges and several pretty spires.

Metz is a lovely place to explore and helped break up our drive a bit. The Cathedral alone is totally worth a special visit.