Metz

Metz is a French town with a German name, located near the German border - go figure. This has to be one of the best kept secrets I've stumbled across. I had never heard of the town, or read about it in any travel books, yet on the way from Normandy back to Frankfurt, we decided to stop off and check it out. We were pleasantly surprised. What we found was a great little town complete with at least 4 amazing churches, great views of the river running through town, and a vibrant garden between the largest cathedral and the city hall. The big cathedral here is ridiculously huge inside - it can't be much smaller than the ones in Cologne or Strasbourg - it is built in a different style and lacks a single tall steeple. It, along with 3 others demand your attention while passing through town. There are plenty of winding cobblestone roads and courtyards to get lost in, and we saw people camped out along the river as well. Unfortunately we didn't have much time to spend here, but I'd definitely like to go back and explore it for a day or two.