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Key figures

Origin and history

The Guimard building of the Mouton-Duvernet station is an access to the Paris metro designed in 1900 by the architect Hector Guimard for the Compagnie du Métropolitain. It is one of the iconic entrances of the network, characterized by their Art Nouveau style, with cast iron structures and stylized plant forms. This specific edicle, located avenue du Général-Leclerc, was protected by a registration order for the Historical Monuments on 12 February 2016, covering all of Guimard's remaining achievements for the Paris metro.

Mouton-Duvernet station, inaugurated on 30 October 1909 on line 4, owes its name to the adjacent street, itself named in tribute to General Mouton-Duvernet. The Guimard column of this station is one of the few copies still in place today, reflecting the aesthetic and functional innovation of the first decades of the Paris metro. Line 4, of which this section was built from 1905, initially linked the gate of Clignancourt to the gate of Orléans, marking a key step in the development of public transport in Paris.

Over time, the station underwent several renovations, notably in 1969 with the introduction of an orange tile known as the Mouton style, and in 2007 with a return to the bevelled white tile as part of the "Metro Renewal" program. In 2018, it was the first station on line 4 equipped with pallet doors, as part of its automation. Despite these modernizations, Guimard Building, an external heritage element, has been preserved, highlighting its historical and architectural importance.

The church is part of an urban context marked by the densification of Paris at the beginning of the twentieth century, where the metro became a symbol of modernity and accessibility. The Guimard entrances, with their organic curves and industrial materials, broke with the dominant academicism, reflecting the artistic aspirations of the time. Today, these edicles are visual landmarks and testimonies of the Parisian industrial and artistic heritage, attracting the attention of passersby and history lovers.

The 2016 protection recognizes the heritage value of these structures, often threatened by renovations or destruction during the 20th century. Mouton-Duvernet's church, located in front of the 40th Avenue du Général-Leclerc, remains a remarkable example of the integration of art into public space. Its inscription extends to the immediate entourage, stressing the importance of keeping these elements in their original context.

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