Art lovers considering a move for property in France might be interested in the news that a new branch of the world-famous Pompidou arts centre has opened in the north-east of the country.

The building in Metz has 5,000 square feet of gallery space and will house works by some of the most revered names in art, including Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque and Jackson Pollock.

According to the AFP news service, the centre could provide a big economic boon to Metz and the wider Lorraine region by drawing in tourists from nearby Germany and Belgium, as well as those looking for property in France from the UK.

It noted that the city, which is just 80 minutes from Paris by high-speed train, has long been considered a "forgotten gem".

The original Pompidou Centre in Paris opened to the public in 1977. Every year, it attracts around six million visitors.

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