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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Bastille substation is an industrial building built in 1911 in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, close to the Place de la Bastille and the port of the Arsenal. Designed by architect Paul Friesé for the Compagnie du chemin de fer métropolitain, it housed an electrical transformer essential to the operation of the Paris metro. Its role was to convert the high voltage alternating current, provided by the thermal power station in Saint-Denis, to a low voltage DC current usable by the trains. The building is part of a network of similar substations built to power the first lines of the metro, opened in 1900.

The architecture of the building, though massive, incorporates stylistic elements inspired by the German neo-Roman, reflecting the Germanic culture of Friesé. The beige brick facade, softened by rounded edges and arches, contrasts with the internal metal structure. Two turrets in the corner remind medieval buildings, while a monumental arch in the middle dominates the entrance. These aesthetic choices were aimed at harmonizing the industrial utility of the place with the Parisian urban landscape, marked by historical references.

Between 1967 and 1971, changes were made to the façade, including the addition of windows in the lower part overlooking the rue de la Cerisaie. Ranked as a historical monument in 1992, the substation has undergone a functional evolution: the higher levels are being converted (2024-2025) into event spaces, while the ground floor and the first floor remain dedicated to the electrical transformation for lines 1 and 5 of the metro. This dual use illustrates the adaptation of industrial heritage to contemporary needs.

Bastille substation is part of a set of seven protected substations in Paris, demonstrating the historical importance of the metro's electrical network. Its inscription in the title of historical monuments underlines both its architectural value and its technical role in the history of Parisian transport. Recent work aims to preserve this heritage while offering it a new vocation, combining industrial memory and urban dynamism.

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