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Key figures

Origin and history

The Paris-Saint-Lazare station, located in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, is the first station built in Île-de-France in 1837. Originally conceived as a temporary wooden dock on Europe Square, it is rapidly evolving to become a major terminus of the western railway network. His development was marked by several phases of reconstruction, notably in 1842-1853 under the direction of architects Alfred Armand and Eugène Flachat, then in 1885-1889 with Juste Lisch, who gave him his current physiognomy.

The station plays a key role in the urbanisation of Paris and the rise of suburban transport. As early as 1837, it served the Paris-Saint-Germain-en-Laye line, then extended to Normandy and the western suburbs. In 1867, it became the busiest station in Paris with 25 million passengers annually. Its hausmann style architecture reflects the power of railway companies, with facades decorated with Corinthian capitals, pilasters and balconies.

In the 20th century, the station underwent major modernisations, including electrification of suburban lines from the 1920s and renovations between 2003 and 2012 as part of the project Tomorrow Saint-Lazare. This programme, costing EUR 250 million, transforms the room for the lost into a three-level shopping centre, improves access to public transport and restores heritage elements such as Art Nouveau windows.

The station is also a cultural symbol, immortalized by artists such as Claude Monet, who painted a series of paintings there in 1877, or Camille Pissarro. She appeared in films, songs and literary works, strengthening her status as a Parisian icon. Today, with 27 dock tracks and annual traffic of more than 100 million passengers, it remains a major rail hub, despite persistent challenges in terms of regularity and saturation.

Partly classified as historical monuments since 1984, the Paris-Saint-Lazare station combines architectural heritage and modern functionality. Its facades, roofs, public hall and boarding hall are protected, as is the former Terminus hotel, now transformed into a Hilton hotel. Its history reflects the technical, social and urban developments of Paris since the 19th century.

In 2021, the station was to host the Museum of Playful Art, the world's first museum dedicated to creative industries (drawing band, manga, animation cinema), installed behind the large clock on its façade. This project highlights its growing role as a cultural and multifaceted space, beyond its historical railway function.

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