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With a total length of 213 km, the subway network, built over a century ago, sees approximately 1.4 billion rides annually. From the beginning of the 20th century, the subway was a very popular mode of transportation, closely associated with the Parisian working class, helping them get to factories and workshops concentrated mainly in the city. By the early 1970s, the subway had become synonymous with a fast-paced and monotonous life, with the still-popular slogan "métro, boulot, dodo" (subway, work, sleep).
The Metro system - A witness to history, the soul of Paris.
The Paris Metropolitain system, managed by the Paris Public Transport Company (Régie autonome des transports parisiens-RATP), officially began operation on July 19, 1900, and has continued to develop to this day. Closely intertwined with the lives of those who have visited Paris for over a century, it is undeniable that the Paris Metro system is a distinctive cultural feature of France and one of the most iconic landmarks of the City of Lights.
This system transported 1.498 billion passengers in 2019, or approximately 4.1 million passengers per day, making it the most used public transport system in Paris.
In 1863, the world's first metro line was put into operation in London. Three years later, New York was the next city to use the metro, followed by Chicago in 1892 and Budapest in 1896.
After years of debate between the State and the Parisian city government, in 1895, the Brittany civil engineer Fulgence Bienvenüe was responsible for commencing the construction of the Metro in the French capital. Paris would have a complete inner-city transport system ready for display at the 1900 World's Fair and would expand with six additional lines by 1911. Therefore, the Metro is one of the most important projects marking the beginning of Paris's modern era.
Métro is the abbreviation for the company that originally operated most of the network: Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris SA ("Paris Metropolitan Railway Company").
The Paris Metro system today has a total of 16 lines, arranged in order from 1-16, with a total track length of 214 km, carrying at least 4.5 million passengers daily, and approximately 1.4 billion users annually.
Metro tickets were available from the moment Line 1 began operating. 30,000 tickets were sold on the first day of service at 15 cents per second-class ticket. In 1900 alone, 17 million passengers used the line. Before the introduction of the automated ticketing system in 1973, ticket inspectors always stood at the entrance to the metro station to issue tickets.
In 1845, Paris and the railway companies conceived of a metropolitan rail system to connect the city's inner districts.
French railway companies and the government want to extend the main rail line into a new underground network, while Parisians support a new, independent network.
Due to the heterogeneous geological characteristics of Paris, the Metro lines are generally located quite close to the ground, with an average depth of 4 to 12 meters. Except for lines running underground beneath the hills of Paris, such as Montmartre and Ménilmontant, some stations are nearly 32 meters deep, such as beneath the Chaumont Hill (Buttes Chaumont) in the 19th arrondissement, north of Paris. This is why the Paris Metro lines are built along main thoroughfares, resulting in some lines having quite winding paths.
To ensure the most convenient travel for Parisians, the Paris Metro in the city center has stations very close together. The average distance between two stations is 548 meters, except for line 13 which is 325 meters, and line 14 which is 1 kilometer, all forming a grid-like network closely packed together beneath the city.
The Paris Metro and its impressive stations recreate the culture and history of the City of Lights.
In 1968, André Malraux, a writer and politician in charge of the government's cultural affairs, conceived the idea of "cultural stations." Since then, the Métro stations have been renovated, transforming from ordinary stations into places that recreate the history and culture of Paris and France.
Inspired by the Museum of Art and Crafts, the Arts et Métiers station on Line 11 is an architectural masterpiece. Stepping inside is like entering another world, where technology and art blend together. With its gleaming brass panels and impressive Nautilus submarine models, this station offers a truly unique experience. This combination has transformed the station into a veritable underground art museum.
The embankment of station number 11 is arguably the most unique metro station in Paris.
Round windows like those on a ship, walls made of copper plates, cogwheels on the ceiling…
If you want to feel like you've stepped into another world in the heart of Paris, then this is the metro station you need, a hybrid of a Jules Verne submarine and an extraordinary machine from the imagination.
Concorde Station on Line 12 is a living historical museum. The Declaration of Human Rights and Citizen Rights is depicted on its walls, marking one of the most important milestones in French history. Each floor tile is like a letter, together creating a unique work of art that pays homage to the culture and spirit of the nation.
Since 1991, the entire dome of Concorde Station on Line 12 has been decorated with a porcelain artwork by artist Françoise Shein.
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Paris metro, artist Jean-Michel Othoniel created a unique artwork at the Palais-Royal-Musée du Louvre station. This distinctive piece transformed the access ramps to Place Colette into a colorful and creative space. The shimmering glass spheres, like precious jewels, formed a charming little kiosk that captivated everyone's attention.
Much like Guimard's early Art Nouveau style, this design was also the subject of debate and criticism because it broke with the classic elegance of the neighborhood, with its famous landmarks such as the French Theatre, the Constitutional Council, the Louvre Museum, and the Royal Palace…
The most beautiful view of Paris from the metro is the stretch between the Passy and Bir-Hakeim stations on Line 6 leading to the Eiffel Tower. This is the only line that doesn't run entirely underground, but mostly on elevated walkways. The entire Eiffel Tower, with the Iéna Bridge and the two banks of the Seine River in the background, blend together to create a magical and enchanting scene.
Made from blue letters on a white background, this giant sign recreates the Declaration of Human Rights and Citizenship of 1789 (July 14, 1789, marked the outbreak of the French Revolution).
Besides the most beautiful metro stations, Paris still has abandoned subway stations, known as "ghost stations," because they are no longer open to passengers. When World War II broke out, the government implemented a policy of reducing service frequency and only operated 85 stations, as some staff were mobilized for the war. In the years after the war, most were reopened; however, many stations were not used regularly, or were too close to neighboring stations and remained out of service, while others were used for other purposes or disappeared over time. Three stations have been permanently closed since 1939: Arsenal, Champ-de-Mars, and Croix-Rouge.
In the near future, sometime before 2040, the "Métro du Grand Paris" project will be completed. 155 km of new railway lines, connecting with existing routes, will allow tens of thousands of Parisians and people in the surrounding areas to save significant travel time and travel further.
