Opening of the terminus line 2 Sud 24 avril 1906 (≈ 1906)
First terminus in Place d'Italie from Star.
2 juin 1906
Inauguration line 5
Inauguration line 5 2 juin 1906 (≈ 1906)
Interim terminus from Orléans Station.
1er mars 1909
Launch line 6
Launch line 6 1er mars 1909 (≈ 1909)
Reuse of the wharf of the old line 2 South.
12 février 2016
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 12 février 2016 (≈ 2016)
Protection of the Guimard edicle by order.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Hector Guimard - Architect
Creator of the Art Nouveau buildings of the metro.
Origin and history
The Guimard building of the Place d'Italie station is an emblematic architectural element of the Parisian metro, designed by Hector Guimard in the Art Nouveau style. It is part of the original network access, inaugurated in the early twentieth century. This specific edicle, located in the south of the square of Italy opposite the shopping center Italy Two, has been classified historical monument by ministerial decree. It symbolizes the aesthetic and functional innovation that marked the expansion of the Paris metro under the Third Republic.
Place d'Italie, served by lines 5, 6 and 7, was opened gradually from 1906. On 24 April 1906, it became the eastern terminus of line 2 South (future line 6), replacing the temporary terminus of Passy. Two months later, on 2 June 1906, Line 5 also established its terminus, then linking the Orléans station (today Austerlitz) to this new hotspot of the 13th arrondissement. These developments reflect the desire to open up the peripheral areas of Paris by improving their accessibility.
The Guimard Building of Access No. 2, located in Place Henri-Langlois, is one of the few copies still in place and protected today. These cast iron and glass structures, characterized by their organic curves and plant motifs, were largely removed during the 20th century in favor of more modern entrances. Their preservation reflects the progressive heritage recognition of Art Nouveau and the historical importance of the metro as a symbol of Parisian urban modernity.
The station underwent several major renovations, notably between 1974 and 1984 with the adoption of the decorative style Andreu-Motte, which standardized the aesthetics of the corridors and docks. Although the original tiled benches were gradually replaced, the Guimard edicles remain strong visual markers of the identity of the Parisian metro. Their official protection in 2016 enshrines their heritage value, while stressing the central role of Place d'Italie in the Franciscan transport network.
Today, the Place d'Italie station is one of the busiest in the network, with more than 10 million passengers per year before the health crisis of 2020. The Guimard edicles, integrated into a constantly changing urban environment (Maye of the 13th, Italy 2 shopping centre, Butte-aux-Cailles district), recall the architectural and social heritage of the metro, while still serving their initial function of access to the underground network.
