Paris Metro

The name “metropolitain” appeared for the first time in France and in translation means “capital”. The Paris metro does not carry the laurels of the world’s first metro and is not the largest subway, as Parisians have long resisted its construction in the capital.

The first branch of the Paris metro was built at the turn of the XIX and XX centuries in 1900. The "fathers" of the first lines were engineer Fulgem Bienven and station architect Edmond Hue. According to the first plans, the metro was not supposed to go outside the city and had only 6 lines. However, after 35 years, the metro not only had 12 lines, but also went to the suburbs. In the 50s, the metro was modernized: lighting was improved, tire cars appeared. In 1998, the fully automated 14th metro line Meteor was opened. The station is made in a modern style and is equipped with a transparent barrier between the train and passengers. Cars go without drivers and develop high speed.

The architectural decoration of metro stations is not at all like the Moscow subway. The Paris metro was originally built as a solution to the problem of large passenger traffic on the eve of the World Exhibition, in contrast to the Moscow metro, which was intended to become an underground palace of the country of Soviets. Therefore, the Paris metro is just a convenient means of transportation, while the Moscow metro is a work of art. However, in the early 90s, the Paris metro stations began to be beautifully decorated. For example, the interior of the Louvre-Rivoli station has acquired the style of the museum, and on the vaults of the Concorde station there are texts with the Declaration of Human and Citizen Rights.

Recommend a place