We thought the Lisch station was destined to remain a stunning ghost of bricks, metal, and glass. Yet, it’s back on track. In Asnières-sur-Seine, this former station of the Hauts-de-Seine (92), commonly called the Carbonnets station, remains one of those places whose mere name sparks curiosity among heritage enthusiasts. Built in 1878 by architect Juste Lisch to serve as a terminus and embarkation point at the Champ-de-Mars, it stands out as one of the few spectacular remnants of the era of Universal Expositions. Its architecture encapsulates the grandeur of that period: a steel frame, brick infill, intricately decorated facades, and a design where railway functionality dances with aesthetic appeal. The station was not just meant to facilitate travel; it aimed to impress, especially during a time when progress loved to make a statement. After decades of neglect, abandoned projects, and false starts, the station is finally preparing to welcome a new chapter — a tangible renewal.
Following its first chapter in Paris, the building was relocated to its current site in Asnières-sur-Seine, on Impasse des Carbonnets. Over the years, it has experienced several different lives: serving as the terminus station of Bois-Colombes from 1924 to 1936, then functioning as workshops, before falling into a long period of decline. Threatened with demolition in the early 1980s, it narrowly escaped destruction and was finally granted designation as a historic monument on August 13, 1985.
For a long time, its silhouette remained that of a work of art left unfinished. Several private proposals have fallen through over the years. In 2024, the municipality of Asnières-sur-Seine finally acquired the building from SNCF. By June 2025, La Vie du Rail reported that the city planned to restore the structure to its original state — an approximately 1,500 square meter building — with renovation costs estimated at around 8 million euros. The project will be overseen by cabinet Béchu & Associés and will adhere to heritage preservation standards.
The news isn’t just in the design—it seems the Lisch station finally has a clear purpose. According to the mayor of Asnières, the jury has selected a mixed-use project that will see the ground floor transformed into a 900-square-meter fitness and wellness space dedicated to sport and well-being, while the upper level will house a near 500-square-meter Citrus restaurant, themed around trains. This approach aligns with the city’s call for proposals, which aimed to find a development that’s both culturally, economically, or touristically impactful, and that preserves the historic character of the site.
Having once drawn crowds during the World's Fair, and then enduring the passage of time, neglect, and uncertainty, this historic monument in Asnières-sur-Seine may now be poised to make the greatest comeback of its long-forgotten heritage.
