History, anecdote, paris train station guide

Before the Musée d’Orsay: when Orson Welles filmed The Trial in the former railway station

In 1962, Orson Welles set up some of the sets for The Trial in the Gare d’Orsay. The Parisian building, which became a museum in 1986, still has a clock that appears in the film.

The painting that travelers almost never see: The Secret of the Poilus at Gare de l’Est

In the Gare de l’Est, a colossal painting looms over hurried travelers. 'Le Départ des poilus, août 1914' tells, all at once, of the French mobilization, a father's grieving, and a Paris reshaped by war.

Do you know the meaning behind the 23 statues that adorn Gare du Nord?

Above Gare du Nord, 23 statues watch over the travelers. They aren’t just decorative: they tell the stories of the cities served by the train and transform the façade into a carved map of Europe.

Gare de l’Est, the story of the station that opened Paris to the East

At the gates of Alsace, Lorraine, Germany and Central Europe, the Gare de l'Est has sent millions of travelers on their way, as well as soldiers, during France’s darkest hours.

Gare du Nord, the incredible story of Europe’s busiest railway station

Every day, hundreds of thousands of travelers converge beneath the vast glass roofs of Gare du Nord. As Paris's gateway for those arriving from London, Brussels, or Amsterdam, it is now Europe’s busiest railway station. Yet its story began modestly, in the heart of the 19th century.

La Gare Saint-Lazare, l'histoire de la plus ancienne grande gare de Paris Saint-Lazare Station, the story of Paris's oldest major railway station

Chaque jour, des centaines de milliers de voyageurs empruntent la gare Saint-Lazare sans forcément se douter qu’ils traversent l’un des chapitres les plus importants de l’histoire ferroviaire française. Première grande gare parisienne, immortalisée par Claude Monet, elle a vu naître les banlieues modernes, les voyages vers la Normandie et l’essor du chemin de fer dans la capitale.

La Gare Montparnasse, l'histoire de la gare qui a fait entrer l'Ouest dans l'ère moderne Montparnasse Station, the story of the station that ushered the West into the modern age

Famed for its tower, its vast concourse, and departures to Brittany or the Southwest, Montparnasse Station today stands as one of Paris’s principal gateways to the outside world. Yet its history is also the story of a spectacular crash, a complete rebuild, and a revolution in travel with the arrival of the TGV Atlantique.

Gare de Lyon: the fascinating story of the station that opened Paris to the Mediterranean.

With its enormous clock, its famed tower, and the prestigious Le Train Bleu, the Gare de Lyon is one of Paris's most iconic stations. Behind its monumental architecture lies a history rich in technical feats, in legendary journeys, and in urban transformations that have accompanied the capital's rise.

Austerlitz Station: the extraordinary fate of one of Paris’s oldest stations

The Austerlitz station is one of Paris’s oldest train stations, and also one of the most fascinating. Behind its expansive glass roof lies a tale of railway conquest, monumental architecture, and journeys heading south across France.

Bercy Station: the little-known story of a Parisian railway hub born out of the wine trade

In the shadow of Gare de Lyon, Gare de Bercy nonetheless has a fascinating history. Between wine warehouses, holiday trains, and urban transformation, this unassuming station in the 12th arrondissement tells, in its own way, a part of Paris’s history.

But what is this airship doing right in the middle of Austerlitz Station in Paris?

While construction work is underway at Austerlitz Station, passersby can catch a glimpse behind the barriers of a dirigible's framework. But what's the reason behind this?

Did you know? This over 3-hectare hanging garden is hidden at the top of a Parisian train station.

And what if, atop Montparnasse Station, Paris concealed a lush green oasis suspended above the hustle and bustle of trains and traffic? A tranquil spot where the noise stays below and nature reclaims its space, providing city dwellers with an unexpected refuge. Welcome to the hidden green haven of the 15th arrondissement: the Jardin Atlantique.

Did you know? The building that houses the Musée d’Orsay in Paris was actually a former train station.

The Musée d’Orsay, renowned for its collection of Impressionist masterpieces, is housed in a former train station built in 1900. Here’s a look back at the fascinating history of this iconic Parisian landmark, where art and architecture come together.

On this day in Paris, October 22: A spectacular rail crash at Montparnasse station

On October 22, 1895, a spectacular railway accident shook Montparnasse station. The Paris–Granville train failed to brake in time and plunged down below the station, its façade partly ruined by the violence of the impact.