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Key figures

Origin and history

The Guimard building of the Bréguet-Sabin station, located in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, is an access to the metro line 5, inaugurated in 1906. Designed in 1900 by architect Hector Guimard for the Compagnie du Métropolitain, he illustrates the Art Nouveau style with its organic shapes and cast iron structures. These edicles, emblematic of the early 20th century Paris, marked the entrances of the underground network on the surface, combining functionality and innovative aesthetics.

The Bréguet-Sabin station, opened on 31 December 1906, owes its name to Rue Bréguet (a tribute to the Swiss watchmaking family, including Abraham-Louis Breguet, inventor of astronomical watches) and Rue Saint-Sabin (reference to Charles-Pierre d'Angelesme de Saint-Sabin, a bishop of Paris in the 18th century). Its edicle, protected by a 1978 order and re-registered in 2016, is one of the few not to include the cast iron portico characteristic of Guimard's simple models.

Between 1974 and 1984, the station's docks were modernized in the "Andreu-Motte" style, with white tiles and yellow seats, typical of the renovations of the Parisian metro of that time. In 2019, a complete restoration of the corridors and reception hall, as part of the "Metro+Beautiful" programme, replaced the asphalt floor with an anthracite grey tile, while preserving the historic building.

The entrance to secondary access (face to 9 Boulevard Richard-Lenoir) is distinguished by the absence of its cast iron portico, a rare feature among Guimard's achievements. The resort, located close to the Canal Saint-Martin and Place des Vosges, is located in a neighborhood marked by a dynamic cultural life, with places like the Café de la Danse or the Rue de Lappe, known for its nightlife.

Ranked a historic monument, this edicle bears witness to Guimard's architectural heritage and the history of Parisian transport. It also recalls the urban evolution of the 11th arrondissement, between industrial heritage (the canal) and modernity, while remaining a functional access point to the metro network, served by RATP bus line 69.

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