Abbesses metro station, on line 12, serves Place des Abbesses and the Montmartre district. Its name comes from theDames de Montmartre abbey, founded in 1130 by King Louis VI and Queen Adélaïde of Savoy. This abbey, run by abbesses, played a major role in the district's religious and cultural history for over six centuries.
After centuries of prosperity, the abbey fell on hard times, including a fire in 1559 and violence during the siege of Paris in 1590. Although an underground crypt, believed to mark the site of Saint Denis' martyrdom, was discovered in 1611, this was not enough to halt its decline. Closed in 1790 during the French Revolution, the abbey was almost entirely demolished in 1794, leaving only the small adjoining church.
The story of Abbesses station began in 1913, when it was opened on line A of the Compagnie Nord-Sud, which later became line 12 of the Paris metro. It was built to facilitate access to Montmartre, a steeply sloping neighborhood popular with artists and visitors alike. Its name is a tribute to the 46 successive abbesses who headed the Dames de Montmartre abbey.
Abbesses is the deepest metro station in Paris, located 36 meters underground. This depth is explained by the need to bypass the Butte Montmartre, a major geological obstacle during construction of the line. To reach the platforms, users have to climb 176 steps in two spiral staircases, or use one of the two available elevators. Although another metro station on line 15 is set to overtake the Abbesses station in terms of depth, descending to 52 meters below ground, the Abbesses station remains the deepest in Paris. The new station will be at Saint-Maur-Créteil.
The station entrance is adorned with a superb Guimard kiosk, representative of the Art Nouveau style. It features a cast-iron structure decorated with plant motifs and a typical sign reading "Métropolitain". Its particularity lies in the fact that it was not originally intended for this station. In fact, it originally came from the Hôtel de Ville station, before being moved to Abbesses in 1974 to preserve this emblematic architectural heritage. The Guimard kiosk at Abbesses station is a covered B model. This type of kiosk features a cast-iron structure adorned with plant elements typical ofArt Nouveau, as well as a glass canopy protecting the metro entrance. This is one of the few surviving examples of this model, designed by Hector Guimard for the Paris metro network at the beginning of the XXᵉ century.
In addition to its architecture, Abbesses station is also renowned for its murals, which adorn the walls of the spiral staircase. These paintings, by local artists, illustrate various scenes from Montmartre's history and pay tribute to the district's bohemian spirit.
Located in the heart of Montmartre, just a few steps from the "Je t'aime" wall and Place du Tertre, Abbesses station is one of the best ways to discover this legendary Paris neighborhood. It perfectly embodies the blend of history, culture and modernity that characterizes Montmartre.
On your next visit, take time to admire the Guimard aedicule, explore the frescoes on the spiral staircase by opting for the stairs instead of the elevators, and discover the fascinating history hidden beneath your feet.
