Metz - Chapelle des Templiers

The Knights Templar (aka "Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon") settled in Metz mid 12th century. The first donation is recorded 1147, after Bernard de Clairvaux had preached the 2nd Cruisade in Metz.

The (octagonal) rotunda is the only remaining structure of the "commanderie", that once existed here. It was built 1180 - 1220 and like many similar churches the Knights Templar erected all over Europe, this is a "copy" of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

It is the only rotunde in Lorraine, and has parallels to the chapel the Knights Templar built in Laon around 1140.