The Paris Metro is has more than a century old history. This transit system is used by more than 4 million users daily and is an iconic symbol of the Parisian life. Here, we are going to explore a unique aspect of the Paris metro system. We are going to take you to visit the abandoned and forgotten underground metro stations.
1. Croix-Rouge station
In 1939 as the World War II raged, many railway workers left Paris. Due to the staff shortages, only 85 metro stations remained operational in Paris. A few years later, most of these stations were operational again. However the station of the Croix-Rouge, located on the metro line 10, has never again been reused because it is too close to the stations Sevres-Babylone and Mabillon.
2. The Invalides station
The station of Invalides on the metro line 8 remains unused and is closed to the public.
3. Martin Nadaud station
This station was on the line 3, in the twentieth arrondissement of Paris. In the 60s, the station Gambetta was remodeled and merged with the station Martin Nadaud. However, its platforms are still clearly visible (from barriers, under the arch).
4. The Gare du Nord USFRT station
This station was the terminus of the line 5 until the line was extended in 1942. Abandoned since that time due to its lack of depth, it now serves as a training center.
5. Arsenal station
The station was closed to the public on September 2, 1939 due to the Second World War and has never been reopened since. It is situated on line 5 between Bastille and Quai de la Rapee. It is currently used for the training of the RATP workers.
6. Station Porte Molitor
This station is located in the sixteenth arrondissement and has never been opened. It is located between the stations Porte de Saint-Cloud and Porte d’Auteuil. Today, it only serves as a garage for trains.
7. The station Haxo
As the station Porte Molitor, the station Haxo has never been open to the public. It is located in the nineteenth arrondissement, on the road that connects the line 3a to 7a.
8. Porte de Versailles
The current station of Porte de Versailles near the Parc des Expositions de Paris is located on line 12. However, the platforms used by travellers today are not the original ones. Indeed, it was in 1930 when they planned to extend the line to the station Mairie d’Issy. The old platforms were thus destroyed, but the tiles in the photo show a former station.
9. Victor Hugo station
Currently, the station Victor Hugo in the sixteenth arrondissement is located on line 2 and was built in 1931. However, a station of the same name existed before this one. It was built a few meters away, thirty years earlier. The problem lay in the fact that the curves of the rails in those old station were too pronounced, making it unusable for the trains of the time. Although closed to the public, users of the line 2 towards Porte Dauphine will always see it.
10. The station Porte des Lilas – Cinema
The station Porte des Lilas currently on lines 11 and 3a. However, it has a pair of platforms completely unused. Now it is used as a backdrop for filming of movies or commercials, hence it is named: Porte des Lilas – Cinema. It also served as the set for the films ” The Fabulous Destiny of Amelie Poulain” and ” Women of the shadows “.
11. Saint-Martin station
It is located on line 8 and 9 and was closed in 1939 during world war 2. It was reopened after the Liberation of Paris, but being too close to the station Strasbourg-Saint-Denis, it was closed again. For several years, it used to welcome the homeless and is now visited by the passionate of art of the RATP.
It’s hard to imagine a city as vibrant as Paris contains the abandoned places where nobody sets foot … Do you know any other abandoned places like this worth a visit?