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Origin and history

The Guimard building of Ménilmontant station is a historic access to the Paris metro station, located at the edge of the 11th and 20th arrondissements. It marked the entrance of the station opened on 31 January 1903 during the extension of the 2 Nord line, linking Antwerp to Rue de Bagnolet (now Alexandre Dumas). This edicle, characteristic of the Art Nouveau style, is the work of architect Hector Guimard, whose creations have become emblematic of the Parisian metro. It was inscribed in historical monuments by order of 29 May 1978, a protection renewed on 12 February 2016.

Ménilmontant station is sadly famous for having been the scene of the most serious metro accident in Paris on August 10, 1903. A fire in a wooden row, although emptied of his travelers, caused the death of 84 people, 77 of whom were asphyxiated in the nearby Crown station, due to the spread of toxic smoke. This event deeply marked the history of Parisian transport and led to improvements in safety.

Over the decades, the station has undergone several renovations, notably in the 2000s as part of RATP's "Metro Renewal" program. The wharfs and the distribution room were completely modernized, while preserving historical elements such as the Guimard edicle. In 2019, the station was temporarily renamed "Menhirmontant" to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Asterix, illustrating its roots in Parisian popular culture.

Today, Ménilmontant station remains a major crossing point in the 11th arrondissement, served by metro line 2. It is surrounded by cultural and historical sites, such as the Musée Édith-Piaf or Notre-Dame-de-la-Croix Church, and is part of a lively neighbourhood marked by its working history and current dynamism. Its Guimard edicle, with its organic forms and plant motifs, continues to symbolize the visual identity of the Parisian metro.

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