One of the first records of the Church of St. Stephen (Saint-Etienne) dates from the mid-fifth century – from a source known that the chapel of Saint-Etienne already existed in this place and even survived the RAID of the Huns. The location under the modern building of the ancient religious structures confirmed by archaeological excavations conducted in the last century.

The construction of St. Stephen's Cathedral was begun in the eighth century, and two centuries later, the temple was reconstructed, which is funded by the Royal Treasury of Otto I, and later his successor, Otto II.

Another reconstruction of the Cathedral was undertaken in the early thirteenth century and lasted for about three centuries. At this time the temple has a new nave, which was attached to the former Church building. The height of the nave exceeded 40 meters, and it is allowed to consider the Cathedral in Metz one of the great height of the nave in France after Notre Dame cathedrals in Amiens and St. Peter in Beauvais. Updated the Cathedral was consecrated in 1552. Another reconstruction of the Cathedral was made in the second half of the eighteenth century, during some of the buildings nearby were demolished, and in front of the Cathedral appeared area.

Cathedral of Metz is a legend, according to which its construction was the result of the transaction, the architect with the devil, but the architect managed to break the Treaty, and his soul and did not get unclean. The Cathedral is also called the "lamp of the Lord" for a large area (6, 5 thousand sq m) stained glass Windows. Saint-Etienne really has a unique collection of stained glass Windows, some of which were made in the XIII, XIV and XVI centuries, 19 paintings of stained glass completed in the second half of the twentieth century Marc Chagall. One of the authors of stained glass – master of the thirteenth century the Herman Munster – was honored to be buried in the Cathedral precincts. Also, as the architect of the Cathedral Pierre Pen, allegedly outsmarted the devil.