The deepest station in all of Paris city, at approx 300 feet below the ground! Mmhmm…read more
One of my favorite metro stations, primarily owing to the magic surrounding this station. Did you, dear reader, know that there was an actual abbey in this location during the Middle Ages? 300 feet below this station, there actually was. Gypsum (a soft stone) mines were ubiquitous back in the day. There existed a vast network of quarry tunnels, which, in time, did need to be filled by the city by high-pressured concrete.
Needless, the mines closed in 1840's, The actual metro platform was built at bedrock, 285!! steps below Place des Abbesses (where the station is located).. yup!
Each Art Nouveau stop was designed by architect Hector Guimard, and really define Paris as an art haven. The first metro opened in Paris in 1900!