Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Michel station, served by the Paris metro line 4, was inaugurated in 1910 when the central section between Raspail and Châtelet was completed. Its construction was delayed due to the technical difficulties posed by the underground crossing of the arms of the Seine, requiring the construction of a dark metal box in muddy soil. The station, located under Place Saint-Michel, takes its name from the latter and marks the northern end of the homonymous boulevard. Its architecture rests on three 16.5-metre-wide steel casings reinforced by concrete, with 118-metre-long wharves under a 12.5-metre-high elliptical vault.

The station's access, including the iconic Guimard of Art Nouveau style, has evolved over the decades. In the 1970s, the wharfs were renovated in the "Andreu-Motte" style, with light ramps and orange tile, before being modernized in 2008 with a blue palette, then in 2017 for the automation of line 4. The station, deeply buried, combines fixed stairs, mechanical and elevators to facilitate access. In 2019, it welcomed more than 6 million travellers, ranking among the most frequented in the network.

The Guimard church, characteristic of the entrances of the Paris metro at the beginning of the 20th century, embodies the architectural heritage of Hector Guimard, although its name is not explicitly mentioned in the sources for this station. The Saint-Michel station also plays a key role in intermodality, offering connections with the RER C and B (via Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame) as well as with many bus lines. Close to the Latin Quarter, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Îles de la Cité and Saint-Louis, it is part of a major historical and tourist sector in Paris.

External links