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Origin and history

The Guimard building of the Nation station, located boulevard Diderot in Paris (12th), is one of the few original accesses of the Paris metro still in place. Designed by architect Hector Guimard in the Art Nouveau style, it was inaugurated in 1900 when the first line of the network was opened. This edicle, classified as a historical monument, is distinguished by its organic forms, its cast iron structures and its glass windows, characteristic of the artistic movement of the period. It symbolizes the aesthetic and technical innovation of metro entrances at the turn of the century.

The Nation station, to which this edicle gives access, is a major node of the Parisian network. Opened in 1900 for line 1, it gradually expanded with the addition of lines 2 (1903), 6 (1909) and 9 (1933). Unique station with two lines in terminus (lines 2 and 6), it is located under the Place de la Nation, at the limit of the 11th and 12th arrondissements. Its name pays tribute to the Fête nationale, celebrated since 1880, and reflects its importance in the history of Parisian transport.

Access No. 3, adorned with Guimard, is one of the six entry points of the station. Unlike other modernised accesses, it has retained its original aspect, testifying to the architectural heritage of the metro. Other entrances, such as Dorian Avenue (access No. 2), also equipped with a Guimard edicle inscribed with historical monuments, underline the desire to preserve these emblematic elements. The resort, frequented by nearly 9 million annual travellers before 2020, remains a strategic and historic site.

Over the decades, the station has undergone several renovations, including the adoption of the "Muton-Duvernet" style in the 1960s for lines 2, 6 and 9, and its abolition in 2010 in favour of a modern design. The wharves of line 1, renovated in red "Oui-dire" style in the 1990s, were equipped with pallet doors in 2011 for line automation. Despite these developments, the Guimard edicles, like that of Boulevard Diderot, remain intact remains of the pioneer era of the Paris metro.

The Nation station is also a cultural and cinematic place. His wharfs served as a setting for films such as Luc Besson's Subway (1985) and Voltaire's La Fault (2000), anchoring his image in collective memory. Projected as a future match with T3a or T3b tram lines, it continues to evolve while preserving its architectural heritage, embodied by the Guimard edicles, lasting symbols of the visual identity of the Parisian metro.

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