Opening of the station 13 décembre 1900 (≈ 1900)
Inauguration with line 2 North (Porte Dauphine-Etoile).
1931
Reconstruction of docks
Reconstruction of docks 1931 (≈ 1931)
Move to adapt to new trainsets.
29 mai 1978
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 29 mai 1978 (≈ 1978)
Protection of the Guimard edicle by order.
17 septembre 2002
RATP renovation
RATP renovation 17 septembre 2002 (≈ 2002)
Modernisation of lighting and corridors (Renewal programme).
12 février 2016
Extended protection
Extended protection 12 février 2016 (≈ 2016)
Registration of ongoing Guimard achievements.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Hector Guimard - Architect
Designer of the school in 1900.
Victor Hugo - Homonymous writer
Inspiration of the name of the station.
David d’Angers - Sculptor
Author of Victor Hugo's bust.
Origin and history
The Guimard building of the Victor-Hugo station, located in Victor-Hugo Square in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, is a metro access designed in 1900 by architect Hector Guimard for the Compagnie du Métropolitain. Ranked a historic monument by decree of 29 May 1978, it embodies the Art Nouveau style that characterized the entrances of the Paris metro at the beginning of the 20th century. This edicle, integrated into line 2 inaugurated in 1900, survives as a witness to Guimard's achievements, all of which still exist for the metro has been protected since 2016.
The Victor-Hugo station, opened on 13 December 1900 between Porte Dauphine and Étoile (now Charles de Gaulle - Étoile), was completely rebuilt in 1931 due to the dangerous curvature of its original docks, incompatible with the new trainsets. The original accesses, including the Guimard edicle, were preserved despite the displacement of the docks under Victor-Hugo Avenue. The present station combines historical elements — such as the earthenware between the two wars and a bust of Victor Hugo by David d'Angers — with a modern decoration from the "Metro Renewal" programme (2002).
The station's traffic, estimated at 3.8 million passengers in 2019, reflects its importance in the Parisian network. His story includes anecdotes such as his temporary renaming in "Victor Hugo Lloris" in 2018 to celebrate the French victory at the World Cup, illustrating his anchoring in local life. The old docks, visible from the trains, retain their original decoration in cream tiles, vestige of aesthetic experiments from 1900 before the adoption of the white bevelled tile emblematic of the metro.
