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Origin and history

The Guimard building of the Crimean station, located at 2 rue Mathis in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, is an access to the metro designed in 1900 by architect Hector Guimard for the Compagnie du Métropolitain. It is one of the few remaining original entries, characteristic of Art Nouveau style, with its organic curves and cast iron structures. This edicle, registered with historical monuments since 1978 and 2016, symbolizes the aesthetic innovation of the entrances of the Paris metro at the beginning of the twentieth century.

The Crimean station, opened on 5 November 1910 on line 7, owes its name to the proximity of the Crimean street, commemorating the War of 1855-1856. Initially served by all trains, in 1911 it became a low frequency station after the branch line was created towards Pré-Saint-Gervais (current line 7 bis). The quays, renovated in 1988 in the "Oui-dire" style (yellow tiles and multi-coloured lighting), were restored in 2003 to their original bevelled white tile, typical of the Parisian metro.

The church of Mathis Street, the only access adorned with Guimard among the three mouths of the station, contrasts with the post-Second World War entrances, equipped with green steel balustrades. Its classification specifically protects the environment from access, including cast iron and glass elements. The station, frequented by more than 5 million travellers annually before 2020, also illustrates the evolution of RATP's renovation policies, between modernization and heritage preservation.

In 2016 and 2024, RATP temporarily renamed the station on the occasion of April fish ("Châtiment" with reference to Dostoevski, then "Fecrimée" for the Olympics), revealing its cultural anchor. These initiatives highlight the iconic status of the Guimard stations, far beyond their utility function. Today, the church remains the property of RATP, the manager of the francilian network.

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