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Key figures

Origin and history

The Guimard building of the Sentier station is an emblematic element of the Paris metro, designed by architect Hector Guimard in the Art Nouveau style. It is one of the few original entries still preserved, reflecting the visual identity of the network at the beginning of the 20th century. This edicle, located at the corner of Rue Réaumur and Rue des Petits-Carreaux, was inscribed as historical monuments by order of 29 May 1978, a protection renewed on 12 February 2016. It symbolizes the architectural heritage of the first decades of the Paris metro, now largely gone.

Trail Station, opened on 20 November 1904 on Line 3, is part of the rapid expansion of the network at the beginning of the century. Originally, the trains crossed it without stopping until its completion. Its name comes from the Rue du Sentier, a district whose origin of the name remains uncertain, perhaps evoking an old local road. The station underwent several renovations, notably in the 1960s with the addition of a green and then white metal carrossage in the 1990s, while retaining period elements such as yellow "Motte" seats.

The station's main access, integrated into a building on Rue Réaumur, features a unique signal mast in Paris, inspired by London's cocardium, with a red "M" surrounded by blue. This layout, which appeared between the 1930s and 1950s, contrasts with the Guimard edicle of secondary access, more representative of the original style. The resort, frequented by more than 3 million annual travellers before 2020, remains a major crossing point in the historic area of the Trail, known for its textile and commercial activities.

In 2018, RATP temporarily replaced some of the station's name plates to celebrate spring, illustrating its attachment to a dynamic visual identity. Despite successive modernizations, Sentier retains traces of its history, such as its 1960s carrossage, which is now rare in the network. Close to sites such as the Cairo gallery or the Montorgueil district, the industrial, commercial and architectural heritage station, reflecting the evolution of Paris since the beginning of the 20th century.

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