In 1753 the Marshal de Belle-Isle, governor, decided that a "Place" should be made on this spot and that a West door giving access from the Cathedral to the Place should be constructed.
The plans of the architect Blondel necessitated a lowering of the ground level.
The statue of Marshal Fabert,
on the Place d'Armes.
(Cliché LL.)
For months and years the canons and sheriffs set themselves against the work or held it up. During the night of August 9th 1755, M. de Belle-Isle called together the garrison and by the light of torches, had the whole work completed: by the morning the excavations were finished.
On the Place d'Armes the statue of Marshal Fabert, by Etex (1840), stands between military trophies.
The statue of the great Metz captain (1599-1662) who was governor of Sedan, has only the following words as his inscription: