Design of the column 1900 (≈ 1900)
Hector Guimard designs access for the CMP.
7 octobre 1902
Inauguration of line 2
Inauguration of line 2 7 octobre 1902 (≈ 1902)
Opening of the Star-Anvers section including Pigalle.
27 juillet 1965
First Heritage Protection
First Heritage Protection 27 juillet 1965 (≈ 1965)
Registration for historical monuments.
12 février 2016
Renewal of protection
Renewal of protection 12 février 2016 (≈ 2016)
Order confirming the inscription of the column.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Hector Guimard - Architect
Designer of the school in 1900.
Origin and history
The Guimard building of the Pigalle station is an access to the Paris metro designed in 1900 by architect Hector Guimard for the Compagnie générale du Métropolitain. Inaugurated in 1902 with line 2 (Etoile-Anvers section), it is characteristic of Art Nouveau style, with its organic shapes and cast iron structures. The church, located on Boulevard de Clichy, was listed as a historical monument in 1965, then again protected in 2016 to preserve this unique heritage linked to the expansion of the metropolitan network in the early twentieth century.
The Pigalle station, to which this edicle gives access, is a major node of the Parisian metro, served by lines 2 and 12. Its history reflects the evolution of the companies operating the network: the Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain de Paris (CMP) for line 2 (opened in 1902) and the Société du Nord-Sud for line A (now line 12 in 1931). The resort, located at the edge of the 9th and 18th arrondissements, is also a witness to the urban transformations of Montmartre, an emblematic district of Parisian cultural and nightlife.
The Guimard edicle itself symbolizes the aesthetic and technical innovation of its time. Designed as a monumental and functional entrance, it integrates industrial materials (bottom, glass) while adopting plant motifs typical of Art Nouveau. Its heritage protection underscores its role in the visual identity of the Paris metro, alongside the 86 other Guimard buildings still visible today. The Pigalle station, with its 5.6 million annual passengers before 2020, remains a must-see place, combining transport history and urban dynamism.
The surrounding area, centered on Pigalle Square, is inseparable from the church. Close to the Montmartre hillside, it houses historic venues such as La Cigale or Le Divan du Monde, reflecting an intense cultural life since the 19th century. The church, by its location and style, thus embodies the link between architectural heritage, urban mobility and Parisian life, from the beginnings of the metro until today.
