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Construction -

Construction on the Paris Metro began in 1898. It was an ambitious undertaking, with an initial plan to build nine lines.

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Paris World Fair 1900 -

The first line of the Paris Metro, running from Porte Maillot in the west to Porte de Vincennes in the east of the city, was inaugurated on July 19, 1900, during the Paris World Fair. 

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Two-way tunnels -

The Paris metro uses two-way tunnels, making it similar to the New York City Subway while differing from the London Underground.

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The original 'metro' -

The word 'metro,' which is now used in over 50 countries to describe the underground railway system in operation, originates from the Paris Metropolitan.

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Flooded stations -

In 1910, the Great Flood of Paris lasted for two months. The Seine rose eight meters above its usual level, flooding several metro stations as a result.

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Distances -

Paris is very well served by metro stations, with each one said to be no more than 548 meters (500 yards) away from the next closest station. Above ground, you're at most 400 meters (437 yards) away from a station, wherever you are in the city! 

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Mostly underground -

The metro is mostly underground, with many lines following the twists of the streets above. There are also elevated railway viaducts along several lines (1, 2, 5, and 6).

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Hector Guimard architecture -

The first-generation Art Nouveau-style, cast-iron entrances, synonymous to the Paris metro, were designed by architect Hector Guimard. An original, glass-covered entrance (one of the last remaining in the city) can still be found today at Porte Dauphine.

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Distinctive entrances -

The distinctive entrances have even spawned some copycat imitations around the globe, in cities including Chicago, Lisbon, and many more.

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Name changes -

Metro stations have sometimes changed names. After the outbreak of World War I, Allemagne (the French word for Germany) was renamed Jaures, and Berlin was renamed Liege.

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The French Resistance -

During WWII, the French Resistance used the tunnels of the metro to hide, plan, and carry out attacks.

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Between two stations -

The average journey length between two consecutive metro stations takes a total of 58 seconds. That's impressively quick! 

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Lines and transfers -

The Paris metro has 308 stations, with 64 transfers between lines. There are currently 16 lines in operation, with another four under construction. 

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The second busiest metro in Europe -

The system is 226.9 kilometers (141.0 miles) long, with lines identified on maps by number and color. In Europe, it's the second busiest metro system, while worldwide it's the tenth busiest.

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Ghost stations -

There are several "ghost" stations on the Paris metro. These phantom stops are no longer serviced, but trains still pass through some. Saint-Martin, Porte Molitor, and Haxo are a few examples.

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Bastille -

At Bastille metro station, there's a plaque and paintings on the wall tiles that commemorate the revolutionary history of the site, as well as remnants from the prison on one platform.

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Concorde -

Serviced by lines 1, 8, and 13, Concorde is one of the Paris metro's busiest stations. The Declaration of the Rights of Man from the French Revolution is spelled out in tiles on one of the train platforms.

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Châtelet–Les Halles -

The metro station at Châtelet–Les Halles is the biggest in the world, and is served by five separate lines (1, 4, 7, 11, 14).

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Abbesses -

Abbesses station in Paris's 18th arrondissement, served by the metro line 12 is the deepest station in the city. It's located 40 meters (131 feet) below ground.

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City landmarks -

Most of the stations are named after one or two streets, but some are named after places of interest, for example, Opera, Hotel de Ville, and Palais Royal. Many are named after churches.

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Arts et Métiers -

The Arts et Métiers station, located in the 3rd arrondissement, was first opened in 1904. Its platforms were redesigned in 1994 by comic book artist François Schuiten.

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Arts et Métiers -

The redesign featured copper ceilings and walls, with fake portholes, so it resembles being inside a submarine or a Jules Verne science fiction novel.

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Porte de Lilas -

The metro platform at Porte de Lilas, located at the edge of the 19th and 20th arrondissements, is frequently used as a backdrop in music videos and movies.

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Prime ministers, presidents, and a monarch -

Charles De Gaulle is one of two presidents to have a station named after him: Charles de Gaulle–Étoile. Among the others are notable French figures Cardinal Richelieu, Georges Clémenceau, and Léon Gambetta.

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"Métro! Le Grand Paris en mouvement" -

The architecture museum at Trocadéro, Cité de l’architecture et du Patrimoine, held an exhibition titled "Métro! Le Grand Paris en mouvement" to educate the public about the metro's history starting in 2023.

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Passengers -

The metro serves over four and a half million passengers per day, adding up to over a billion annually. Many stations have poor accessibility due to being built before ease of access was a major consideration.

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Train carriages -

Depending on the metro line, the number of train carriages varies. The shortest are three-car trains, while others (such as line 14) run a mix of six and eight-car trains.

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The Grand Paris Express -

The Grand Paris Express project, due to fully open in 2030, adds four lines, 68 stations, and 125 lines of track to the current infrastructure.

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Connecting Orly Airport to the north in record time -

From the end of June 2024, the extended line 14 links Orly airport (south of the city) to Saint-Denis Pleyel, in the city's northern suburbs, in just 40 minutes.

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A modern metro -

Since 2020, the entire metro network has had 4G coverage, including in the tunnels.

Sources: (Forbes) (Travel and Leisure) (Cite de la Architecture) (The Earful Tower) (Snippets of Paris) (Fabric of Paris)

See also: Everything you need to know about the 2024 Paris Olympics

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