001 - UrbanAdventure.org - World Trip 2002 - The abandoned underground Metro stations of Paris

World Trip 2002 - Paris

The Metro in Paris is one of the oldest underground railways in the world. The signs are certainly there, signs of aging and signs of changes over the years. It has a number of abandoned underground stations. As the system has been expanded the routes have been changed often, with trains from one route being rerouted down other tunnels. In some places planned stations were never finished such as Haxo and Porte Molitor, in other places open stations have been closed or abandoned. I decided to visit and document as many of the closed stations in the Paris metro / subway as I could.

I did a bit of research on the web for the location of closed stations of the Paris metro, and realised I had already visited one. The disused station Martin-Nadaud was the fenced off part of Gambetta station, which is the closest station to the Youth Hostel I stayed in. I never did end up photographing that station because it really looked too much like a used station to be worth a photograph and I had not explored it with the intention of actually 'exploring'. I apologise for there being relatively few photos of the stations. I was reserving most of my pictures for the catacombs, and only had about 100 left. In the end I ended up buying another data card, but that was after I explored the stations.

The Paris Metro was a great joy to travel in. Not only was it fast and efficent, but the trains were clean as well. I was pickpocketed on the Metro with my wallet stolen, but there was nothing of value in it. The tunnels of the Paris Metro were old, very old. There were plenty of spaces one could hide from trains, unlike the London Underground where such a venture into the tunnels would be certin death. (In London I was delayed four times due to a 'person under a train') I saw people walking around in the tunnels three times in Paris. I don't think they were workers.

Champ De Mars

I believe this may have once been one of two entrances to the abandoned Champ De Mars station, which is quite close to the Eiffel Tower. One the left is the Military College. The grille on the right appeared to be a vent to the Metro, as I could hear trains pass under it. I may be wrong though.

The former entrance to the now abandoned Paris underground station, Champ De Mars. Surprisingly this station was closed way back on 2nd September 1939.

The current graffiti covered door into the abandoned station. I could hear trains passing by below.

Looking back up the ramp out of the abandoned station. I am unsure why the right side of the stairs are concreted over. I presume this is to allow equipment to be wheeled in and out.

The station tiles are mostly all still intact.

The main platform of abandoned Champ De Mars Paris metro station. Note the graffiti covering both old tile work and advertising spaces. I first read about this station years ago (probably 1992) in a New Scientist magazine article which I have never been able to relocate since. It was one of the many factors that got me interested in abandoned, disused or closed underground railways, metros and subways. It featured information on abandoned stations in Paris, London and New York, all systems which I have now explored.

Graffiti covered walls in the abandoned station. I think this was a transformer.

Part of the platform is taken up by some sort of hut or cabin, the transformer shed.

Snap shot taken from the video of this abandoned Paris metro station showing some graffiti

Snap shot taken from the video of this abandoned Paris metro station showing some more graf and signal at left.

Saint Martin

The entrance to Saint Martin Station. This abandoned station is used as a homeless shelter.

Detail of the entrance to Saint Martin abandoned Metro station. I believe it is used by the Salvation Army as a place where homeless people can sleep. I descended down to the reception area, but thought it would upset people if I started taking photos.

The homeless shelter retains a great deal of the old station feel. Note the tilework. This station has 4 platforms. It was closed in 1939, reopened again after WW2 and then closed again.

Snap shot of the video of this abandoned Paris metro station showing the car displayed here that was part of an art exhibition. The lighting here would change every few seconds so this is the only video I got where you can actually see the car. I must have rode past this station a dozen times just to get this. Each time I did it I had to pass some ticket inspectors who regarded me with more suspicion as I went by six times. It was really unusual to see a car on the platform of a disused metro station. Shortly after this a James Bond movie was released with a car on the platform of a fictional secret London Underground station.

Arsenal

This is the rather dark platform of the closed Arsenal Station in Paris. It has wire fencing separating the platform from the tracks.

This video of Arsenal station clearly shows the fence along the edge of the platform, a work area and the well lit exit to the station.

Another snapshot of this abandoned Paris underground station. I am not sure if this was supposed to be decorative or not.

Red Cross / Croix Rouge

The abandoned underground station Croix Rouge, which I think is the Red Cross. This was the last abandoned station I visited in Paris. This disused station was painted up as a beach scene at one stage. Now graffiti covers what had been an appealing scene. This is one of the reasons I hate the idiots who do this, they destroy beauty.

From the video of this station an exit looms up ahead.

Videos

You may need the Div-X codec for your media player if you just get sound while playing the videos. I recommend the plain Div-X version not Div-X Pro. Also available for Macs. These are the same videos as above.

File	Description	Size kb	Time
metro01_champdemars_9.avi	Video shot out of the train window of Champ De Mars, an abandoned metro station in Paris.	338	9
metro02_champdemars_10.avi	More of Champ De Mars, the disused metro station in Paris.	534	10
metro03_arsenal_9.avi	Arsenal, abandoned Paris metro Station.	440	9
metro04_arsenal_6.avi	More of Arsenal, abandoned Paris metro Station..	494	6
metro05_croixrouge_7.avi	I am sure however that this is Croix Rouge. Note the remains of paintings done in 1982 by Antoine Bonhomme who was commissioned to turn this station into a beach by the RATP.	418	7
metro06_stmartcar_9.avi	This is Saint Martin with a car on the platform. Part of an art project. It is actually a double ended car. I rode past this station about 12 times trying to photograph the car.	468	9

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