When you go to Paris, you'd be surprised at how much time you spend in the metro train stations. If you take
public transport in this city, there's a good chance that you'll have to go to a station every day. And for the most part, you don't really pay attention when you're there. All you're focused on is catching the metro, right? Why would you care about the station at all? Well, it's a different story if you happen to land on some of the landmark metro train stations of Paris. The likes of Louvre-Rivoli, Pont Neuf, and Bastille are unlike any public transport station you've seen before!
Abbesses
The decorative entrance of Abbesses in the
18th arrondissement of Paris is among the most famous in the city. The sign practically looks like it belongs on the set of a period film, especially with its Art Nouveau aesthetic. And that's just the start! When you pass through the beautiful threshold, you'll have to go down a good 300 hundred feet to get to the metro. This makes Abbesses station the deepest in all of Paris. You can take the stairs if you want a good workout but there are also elevators available for your convenience.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Chabe01
Arts et Metiers
Although the Arts et Metiers metro station first opened in 1904 and was redesigned in 1994, you could easily think that it belongs in the year 2104 or even beyond! The chromatic design that now fills this underground metro stop makes you feel like you're somewhere in the distant future. Or, if you're feeling more nautical, inside a submarine. Wherever your imagination takes you, there's no denying that Arts et Metiers station is unlike any other. The
Paris metro lines 3 and 11 pass through here, so if you take any of them, you're sure to pass by this awe-inspiring stop on your commute.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Jerem9211
Bastille
Located on the border of the
4th,
11th, and
12th arrondissements, the Bastille metro station is a pretty central stop. If you're one to travel throughout the many districts and neighborhoods in Paris, there's a good chance you might pass by here. And if you happen to drop off at the station, you'll instantly notice the artwork painted on the station walls. Many of the other metro train stations in Paris have their fair share of decoration, but none are as historic as the ones here. Painted by Liliane Belembert and Odile Jacquot, these underground frescoes depict what is now known as Bastille Day.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Nina Belyavskaya
Cité
While most of the other metro train stations of Paris are located under historic sites, stunning landmarks, and the like, there's only one that's situated under an island: Cité station. Since it's under
Île de la Cité, it's a bit separate from the other metro stops. You'll have to pass through under the Seine River in order to get here. But not to worry! Because when you reach this place, you'll still be near other famous spots like Notre Dame, the Palace of Justice, and more. Not a bad stop to go off, right?
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Chabe01
Cluny-La Sorbonne
If you commute to the
Latin Quarter, which is located in the
5th arrondissement of Paris, via the metro, there's a good chance you might have to go off at Cluny-La Sorbonne station. And once you do, make sure you look up! You won't want to miss the enchanting mosaics that decorate this beautiful stop in the underground subway. Glistening in their jewel-tone finishes, these are works of art that deserve to be put on display in the many famous museums of Paris. You'll also notice that the names of important French people are written all over the walls of the station. Can you put a face on each one?
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Clicsouris
Concorde
If you're up for a word puzzle, you'll definitely enjoy Concorde station in the
1st arrondissement of Paris. Since it serves many lines of the metro, it's a pretty central stop in the city. From the ceiling to the walls, the entire place is filled with letters, as if it's all one huge puzzle just begging to be solved. And yes, you will find some words there. Some will pop out instantly while others are a bit too hard to find. Nevertheless, trying to find all the words laid out here is a great way to pass the time while you're waiting for the next train.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Clicsouris
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Who'd ever thought that one of the metro train stations of Paris would be named after an American president? Situated at the intersection of the
Champs-Elysées and Avenue Montaigne, the Franklin D. Roosevelt is also a pretty noteworthy spot. Not only for of its central location but also because it's the oldest metro station in the city. It first opened back in 1990 and bore two names, Marbeuf and Rond-Point, before World War II. It was only after the war that the city chose to name it after the US president of the time as a form of gratitude.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Ed Webster
Louvre-Rivoli
You can probably already tell why the Louvre-Rivoli metro station is included on this list. This is the first stop you go to when you want to visit the most famous museum in the city, the
Louvre. And if you weren't excited enough to see this iconic gallery, the works of art that decorate the underground station will pump you up even more. It'd be hard not to let the art lover in you geek out when you spot replicas of the museum's beautiful artworks the moment you step off the metro.
Source: Flickr.com/ Kathik Elangovan
Pont Neuf
Tell the world that Paris is a rich city without telling the world that Paris is a rich city. That's essentially what the Pont Neuf metro station is all about. While the other train stations of Paris fascinate with their artwork-filled spaces and colorful decorations, this particular stop chose to put money on its walls. Giant replicas of historic French coins greet the commuters getting off this station. After all, the famous
Monnaie de Paris is just around the corner. It's the place that produces all the French coins that you spend here in Paris and the rest of France.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ besopha
What's great about Paris is that, even when you're commuting, you can have fun like a tourist here. Many of the metro train stations of Paris are pretty noteworthy in their own right. Some are downright beautiful while others have fascinating histories behind them!
